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WHITE 
CANOE 

AND   OTHER    LEGENDS    OF    THE    OJIBWAYS 


(Published  by  BROADWAY 
PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
835  BROADWAY  NEW  YORK 


PREPARED  FROM  LEGENDS 
HEARD  FROM  THE  INDIANS 
THEMSELVES  BY  :  :  :  :  : 

ELIZABETH  tyONeKTON 

(Elizabeth     Davis    Fielder) 

With  reproductions  of  cover- 
design  and  8  original  pyro- 
graphic  drawings  on  birch 
bark  by  the  author  :  :  :  :  : 


/A:!::  vj  :"":*"•:"  |    :  A  •'•. 

•    «  •  •   •  •••.•     I  •.••!•*  i  •• 


Copyrighted,    in    1904, 
BY 

ELIZABETH  MONCKTON. 

All    Rights     Reserved. 


TO   MY   FRIEND 

MRS.  ELEANOR  L.  ELDER, 
This  book  is  affectionately  inscribed. 


M99740 


CONTENTS. 


The    White    Canoe  ................. 

The  Revenge  of  Unk-te-ha  ....................          I5 

The  Daughters  of  the   Stars  ....................  33 

The  Origin  of  the  Robin  .......................  54 

The  Enchanted  Moccasins  ..................  fo 

The  Journey  of  O-me-me 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


LEELINA Frontispiece 

PAGE 
The  Revenge  of  Unk-te-ha 15 

The  Daughters  of  the  Stars 33 

The  Origin  of  the  Robin 54 

The    Enchanted    Moccasins 60 

The  Journey  of  O-me-me go 

The   Little   Beaver IO5 

Finis    138 


vi  Introduction 

camping  ground  to  another.  The  squaws  told 
them  as  they  crouched  on  their  rush  mats  beading 
moccasins  or  braiding  baskets ;  the  old  men  told 
them  as  they  lay  before  the  camp-fires  at  evening 
and  watched  the  smoke  from  their  pipes  curl 
upward,  and  I  give  them  as  they  were  given  to 
me,  as  the  old  men  had  handed  them  down  from 
generation  to  generation,  as  they  will  be  passed 
on  to  their  children,  and  their  children's  children, 
as  long  as  their  is  a  wandering  Ojibway  left  in 
the  forests  along  the  Big-Sea-Water.  The  truth 
is,  Gentle  Reader,  Voracious  Critic,  I  had  to  do 
something  to  make  back  the  money  I  spent  that 
Summer  for  tobacco  to  keep  the  story-teller's 
pipe  working. 

The  natural  attitude  of  the  young  writer  com 
ing  with  his  first  book,  is  meek  and  apologetic. 
He  comes  on  all-fours,  so  to  speak.  I  am  only 
enabled  to  stand  erect  and  claim  for  my  book 
what  it  deserves  by  means  of  constant  bolstering 
with  Mr.  Brander  Matthews'  shrewd  advice  in 
"The  Philosophy  of  the  Preface."  I  am  also 
supported  by  the  firm  conviction  that  it  will  take 
a  critic  to  discover  all  the  good  things  that  are 


Introduction  vii 

really  in  it.  The  student  of  theology  will  be 
interested  in  tracing  the  analogy  between  these 
legends  and  Bible  narrative,  and  noting  how 
nearly  the  lines  approach  sometimes,  leaving 
only  the  racial  differences  of  the  people  between 
them.  The  student  of  literature  will  find  them 
worthy  of  consideration  as  a  contribution  to  folk 
lore,  and  the  small  boy  and  little  girl  who  want 
only  a  good  story  will  be  delighted  to  find  an  en 
tirely  new  tribe  of  fairies,  and  a  new  and  horrible 
giant.  In  short,  you  have  only  to  read  this  intro 
duction — and  I  hope  nobody  will  fail  to  read  it— 
in  order  to  be  convinced  that  no  family  and  no 
individual  can  afford  to  be  without  this  First 
Book. 

I  think  I  have  now  followed  Mr.  Matthews' 
advice  to  the  letter,  saving  and  excepting  that 
of  boasting  of  its  defects.  The  only  reason  I 
have  omitted  this  is  that  there  are  no  defects. 

E.  M. 


THE  WHITE   CANOE. 

T  T  was  four  days  since  the  women  had  borne 
her  out  of  the  lodge  and  buried  her  in  the 
edge  of  the  forest.  Four  days,  and  Waywas- 
simo  had  not  tasted  food  and  only  left  his  lodge 
at  evening  to  kindle  the  fire  upon  her  grave. 
Four  times  was  the  spirit's  camp-fire  lighted  as 
Waywassimo  followed  the  soul  of  his  beloved 
on  its  lonely  journey  to  the  Land  of  Shadows, 
but  now  the  charred  and  blackened  embers  lay  un 
touched  upon  her  grave  and  a  veil  had  fallen  be 
tween  the  soul  of  Waywassimo  and  his  beloved. 
The  squaws  brought  food  and  placed  it  inside 
the  lodge  door,  but  Waywassimo  turned  away 
his  face.  He  had  no  desire  for  the  food  of  the 
old  women  when  all  his  soul  was  hungry  for  the 
voice  of  his  beloved,  his  beautiful  Leelina  with 
eyes  like  stars  and  a  voice  like  the  wind  in  the 
pines.  Tall  and  straight  as  a  young  fir  tree! 


2  The    White   Canoe 

Graceful,  bending  like  a  willow,  swift  of  foot 
and  light  of  laughter !  No,  there  was  never  an 
other  like  her,  Leeiina  the  gentle,  Leelina  the  fair! 
Another  moon  and  she  would  have  been  his  bride, 
but  now  the  women  had  buried  her  in  the  edge  of 
the  forest,  and  Way wassimo  was  alone ! 

They  brought  his  bow  and  arrows  and  laid 
them  inside  the  lodge  door.  For  a  moment 
the  blood  of  the  hunter  quickened  in  his  veins ; 
then  he  remembered  that  no  longer  could  he  lay 
at  the  feet  of  Leelina  his  trophies  from  the  chase, 
so  he  turned  away  his  face  and  heeded  them  not. 

Again  they  came  and  laid  his  tomahawk  and 
war-club  inside  the  lodge  door  and  without  he 
heard  the  tom-toms  and  the  saw-saw-quan  of  the 
warriors.  Once  more  his  pulse  leaped  and  he 
made  as  if  to  array  himself  for  battle ;  but  when 
he  laid  his  hands  on  the  war  garments,  rich  with 
wampum  and  porcupine  quills,  he  remembered 
that  Leelina  would  not  be  there  to  join  in  the 
feasting,  and  to  hear  the  stories  of  his  prowess 
on  their  return,  so  he  turned  away  his  face  and 
heeded  them  not. 

Then  thev  came  no  more,  and  Wavwassimo 


And    Other    Legends  3 

sat  alone  in  his  lodge,  neither  eating  nor  drink 
ing,  until  the  women  shook  their  heads  and  said: 
"We  will  soon  kindle  the  spirit's  camp-fire  on 
another  grave  in  the  forest." 

As  Waywassimo  sat  alone  in  his  lodge,  weak 
and  faint  from  long  fasting,  he  dreamed  strange 
dreams.  All  the  stories  the  old  men  had  told 
him  came  back  to  him,  but  now  they  were  not  as 
old  men's  tales,  but  mingled  strangely  with  his 
dreams  of  Leelina. 

They  told  him  of  a  pathway  leading  from 
earth  to  the  Land  of  Souls,  and  how  the  great 
Master  of  Life,  in  pity  for  those  who  loved  well, 
had  granted  this  boon  that  they  might  see  one  an 
other  again.  Dim  and  uncertain  was  the  path 
way  and  few  on  earth  had  found  it,  for  the  way 
was  long  and  weary  and  the  love  of  many  grew 
cold. 

Night  after  night,  as  Waywassimo  lay  on  the 
mat  in  his  lodge,  the  dream  came  to  him  as  the 
old  men  had  told  it,  and  at  last  he  knew  that  he 
should  have  no  peace  until  he  had  found  the 
mysterious  pathway  and  seen  Leelina  again. 

He  took  a  handful  of  corn  in  his  meda-bag  and 


4  The    White   Canoe 

a  few  arrows  in  his  quiver,  then  stealing  out  of 
the  village  in  the  darkness,  he  stood  beside  the 
grave  of  Leelina.  His  spirit  was  going  to  seek 
hers,  yet  in  all  the  four  corners  of  the  earth  he 
knew  not  which  way  to  turn.  At  last  he  drew 
his  bow-string  and  sent  an  arrow  singing  toward 
the  stars.  The  arrow  fell  to  the  southward, 
and  setting  his  face  in  that  direction,  Waywas- 
simo  started  on  his  journey. 

For  many  days  he  walked,  through  forests, 
over  rank  beaver-meadows,  across  streams  and 
marshes,  without  finding  any  trace  of  the  myste 
rious  pathway.  Bewildered  and  faint  with  weari 
ness,  he  kept  on  until  his  limbs  gave  way  beneath 
him  and  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  but  left  the  vil 
lage  to  perish  in  an  unknown  wilderness.  But 
not  to  save  life  itself  would  he  turn  back  from 
seeking  Leelina,  for  if  it  was  the  will  of  the  Great 
Spirit  that  he  perish,  then  his  soul  should  be  for 
ever  with  hers  in  the  Islands  of  the  Blessed. 
Then,  as  Waywassimo  strengthened  his  resolve 
and  moved  forward  on  his  journey,  a  Spirit  came 
to  him  out  of  the  shadows  of  the  forest,  and, 
taking  his  hand,  pointed  to  a  trail  under  the 


And   Other    Legends  5 

leaves  and  dead  grasses.  No  word  did  the  Spirit 
speak,  and  when  Waywassimo  lifted  his  eyes 
from  the  trail,  he  was  alone,  but  he  was  standing 
in  the  pathway  to  the  Land  of  Souls. 

On  and  on  he  went,  his  weariness  falling  from 
him  and  his  limbs  strengthening  with  renewed 
vigor.  The  snow  was  deep  on  the  ground  and 
matted  thick  on  the  trees  when  he  left  the  vil 
lage;  but,  as  he  proceeded  on  his  journey,  the 
snow  gradually  disappeared,  the  gray  clouds  dis 
solved  and  floated  away,  and  over  him  arched  the 
tender  blue  of  Spring  skies.  The  boughs  flushed 
with  swelling  buds,  and  through  them  swept 
a  breeze  warm  and  balmy  and  odorous  with  the 
breath  of  flowers. 

No  sign  of  human  life  did  Waywassimo  see  in 
all  his  journey,  but  the  breeze  grew  warmer  and 
balmier,  the  trees  burst  into  full  leaf,  wild  flowers 
grew  along  his  pathway,  and  the  forest  was 
melodious  with  the  song  of  birds.  Moving  on  to 
the  southward  the  foliage  became  richer  and 
more  luxuriant,  more  brilliant  the  plumage  of 
the  birds,  and  at  night-time  myriads  of  fireflies 
twinkled  and  glowed  in  the  dense  forest. 


6  The    White   Canoe 

Now  the  trail  became  plainer,  and  by  this  sign 
Waywassimo  knew  that  he  was  Hearing  his  jour 
ney's  end.  At  last  it  emerged  from  the  forest  and 
led  along  a  sloping  hillside,  on  the  'summit  of 
which  stood  a  solitary  lodge.  Within  the  lodge 
sat  an  old  man,  with  whitened  locks  upon  his 
shoulders.  He  was  clothed  in  a  single  garment 
of  skins  and  held  a  staff  in  his  hand.  Waywassi 
mo  knew  by  the  stories  of  the  old  men  that  it  was 
Chebiabos,  the  ruler  of  the  Land  of  Souls. 

"I  have  looked  for  you  long,  my  son,"  the  old 
man  said,  advancing  to  meet  Waywassimo.  "She 
whom  you  seek  is  not  here,  but  she  passed  this 
way  a  few  days  before  you.  Enter.  I  will  give 
you  food,  you  may  rest  in  my  lodge,  and  then  I 
will  guide  you  upon  the  same  journey." 

Waywassimo  entered  the  lodge  of  Chebiabos, 
he  partook  of  the  food  placed  before  him,  and 
lying  down  on  a  bed  of  boughs  he  slept  as  he  had 
not  slept  since  Leelina  went  away. 

The  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  when  Che 
biabos  led  Waywassimo  out  of  the  lodge,  and 
pointed  to  a  lake  stretching  through  the  valley  be 
low.  Its  clear  waters  sparkled  in  the  sunlight, 


And    Other    Legends  7 

and  beyond  it,  misty  and  blue  lay  the  fair  plains 
of  the  Land  of  Souls. 

"Behold  the  Plains  of  the  Blessed,  my  son," 
Chebiabos  said.  "You  stand  now  upon  its  bor 
der,  but  before  you  can  go  forward  you  must  lay 
aside  your  bow  and  arrows,  for  no  sign  of  war 
fare  or  bloodshed  is  allowed  to  enter  that  land." 

Then  leading  Waywassimo  back  into  his  lodge 
Chebiabos  stripped  him  of  his  travel  worn  rai 
ment,  of  all  the  implements  of  hunting  and  war 
fare,  and  clothed  him  in  a  beautiful  garment,  soft 
and  white  as  the  finest  moose  skin,  and  fringed 
with  wampum  that  shone  like  silver  in  the  sun 
light.  Then  when  Waywassimo  walked  forth 
from  the  lodge,  he  found  his  feet  light  as  if 
winged  so  that  he  could  travel  with  no  feeling  of 
weariness. 

Together  they  entered  the  forest  bordering  the 
lake  which  divided  them  from  the  Land  of  Souls. 
Here  Waywassimo  found  all  things  ac  he  had  left 
them  behind.  The  trees  of  his  own  forest  grev; 
around  him,  birds  flitted  through  their  branches, 
and  animals  sprang  across  his  path.  The  sun 
shone  brightly  on  a  familiar  world,  but  over  all 


The   White   Canoe 

brooded  a  strange  oppressive  stillness.  The  trees 
swayed  in  the  breeze,  but  there  was  no  rustling  of 
leaves,  no  chirp  and  twitter  of  bird  song,  no  whir 
of  wings,  no  drone  and  hum  of  insects,  and  not 
even  a  twig  crackled  under  foot  as  they  moved  on 
through  the  forest. 

The  silence  grew  heavier  and  more  oppressive 
until  Waywassimo  felt  a  strange  surging  and 
singing  in  his  ears,  and  his  brain  reeled  with  a 
sense  of  unreality.  His  companion  uttered  no 
word  as  they  passed  through  the  silent  forest,  and 
he  felt  himself  suffocated  with  the  pounding  of 
his  own  heart  in  his  bosom,  and  the  surging  of 
the  blood  in  his  ears  became  as  the  roaring  of  a 
cataract. 

Stretching  out  his  hand  Waywassimo  made  as 
if  to  lay  it  on  the  trunk  of  a  tree  growing  beside 
the  way,  then  the  surging  in  his  ears  stopped, 
and  his  heart  stood  still,  for  his  hand  swept 
through  the  air  and  dropped  at  his  side.  There 
was  no  tree !  Again  he  stooped  to  pluck  a  flower 
growing  among  the  moss,  but  his  fingers  closed 
upon  themselves,  and  there  was  no  flower !  Then 
Chebiabos  turned  to  him  and  said : 


And    Other    Legends  9 

"It  is  so,  my  son,  we  are  in  the  Land  of  Sha 
dows.  Behind  you  are  all  realities.  These  are 
but  the  forms  of  things  that  have  beautified  the 
earth  and  perished.  The  Master  of  Life  is  great 
and  very  good,  and  he  has  ordained  that  nothing 
be  lost.  The  flowers  that  bloom  for  a  day,  the 
trees  that  waved  their  branches  through  the  sun 
and  storm  of  many  years,  all  things  that  his  hand 
has  fashioned  live  forever.  See,  my  son,  the 
forest  is  full  of  birds,  but  there  is  no  song.  They 
are  the  shadows  of  birds  that  have  sung  to  you 
on  the  other  side,  and  the  animals  which  you 
see  around  you  are  but  the  forms  of  your  own 
good  and  evil  thoughts.  You  walk  in  the  Land 
of  Shadows,  my  son,  the  border  country  to  the 
Land  of  Souls." 

At  last  they  emerged  from  the  forest  and  found 
themselves  on  the  bank  of  the  lake.  As  Way- 
wassimo  strained  his  eyes  across  the  level  shining 
water  a  speck  appeared  among  the  mists  upon  the 
horizon,  the  lingering  floating  mists  of  morning 
that  melted  sea  and  sky  together.  Now  it  fell 
and  now  it  lifted,  sometimes  flying,  sometimes 
floating  like  a  heron  or  a  wild  goose,  dipping, 


TO  The    White   Canoe 

flashing  in  the  sunlight,  but  ever  coming  nearer, 
nearer,  until  the  straining  eyes  of  Waywassimo 
saw  the  speck  upon  the  water,  not  a  wild  goose  nor 
a  heron,  but  a  shining  white  Cheemaun  coming 
toward  him  across  the  water.  None  there  was  to 
steer  or  paddle,  but  straight  along  a  track  of 
splendor  came  the  white  canoe  to  Waywassimo. 
Now  it  grounded  safe  among  the  glittering  peb 
bles,  then  he  saw  that  on  the  bottom  lay  a  paddle 
made  of  silver. 

"It  is  the  White  Canoe  come  to  carry  you 
across  the  lake,"  Chebiabos  said,  "and  there  is  no 
other  means  of  passage  to  the  Land  of  Souls.  I 
leave  you  here,  for  every  pilgrim  must  make  the 
voyage  alone,  but  if  you  have  faith  all  will  be 
well." 

Then  Waywassimo  stepped  into  the  White 
Canoe,  and  taking  the  silver  paddle,  pushed  off 
from  shore.  When  he  had  gone  some  distance 
out  upon  the  lake  he  saw  another  canoe  approach 
ing,  gliding  over  the  shining  water,  and  drop 
ping  showers  of  crystal  spray  from  the  gleaming 
silver  paddle.  Nearer  and  nearer  it  came,  and 
Waywassimo  dropped  his  paddle  and  again 


And    Other    Legends  11 

strained  his  eyes  across  the  glimmering  sheet  of 
water.  The  slender  figure  which  swayed  with 
every  dip  of  the  paddle  was  a  woman.  Now  he 
could  see  the  glittering  fringe  of  wampum  on  her 
arms,  and  waist  and  bosom,  see  her  dark  and 
floating  tresses,  see  the  oval  of  her  features,— yes, 
it  was  his  lost  love,  Leelina ! 

On  and  on  she  came  until  the  two  White 
.  Canoes  floated  side  by  side,  but  when  Waywassi- 
mo  stood  up  and  held  out  his  arms  to  her,  Leelina 
smiled  and  laid  her  finger  on  her  lips  as  if  warn 
ing  him  to  silence. 

Together  they  paddled  on,  and  now  Waywas- 
simo  noticed  that  the  waves  were  running  high 
though  the  sun  still  shone,  and  there  was  not  a 
cloud  in  the  sky.  Higher  and  higher  they  grew, 
rolling  against  the  canoes,  as  if  they  would  swamp 
them,  and  as  Waywassimo  bent  to  his  paddle  he 
found  himself  looking  down  through  the  clear 
transparent  water  straight  to  the  bottom  of  the 
lake,  and  his  heart  grey/  cold  with  fear  as  he  saw 
that  the  sands  on  the  bottom  were  strewn  with 
the  bones  of  those  who  had  perished  in  crossing. 

Waywassimo   would    have   turned   back,   but 


12  The    White   Canoe 

v.'lien  he  looked  at  Leelina  he  saw  no  terror  in 
her  face,  but  she  lifted  her  finger  again  and  again 
to  her  lips,  and  smiled  at  him  across  the  billows. 
Then  Waywassimo's  courage  and  faith  came  back, 
and  as  he  bent  again  to  the  paddle  he  found  that 
whenever  the  White  Canoe  touched  the  foaming, 
angry  waves  they  melted  away  and  left  a  smooth 
path  before  it. 

Now  he  saw  other  canoes  likewise  struggling 
among  the  waves.  Some  toiled  for  a  little  while 
and  then  sank  out  of  sight ;  others  kept  on,  bat 
tling  among  the  billows,  and  a  few,  like  their  own, 
found  the  waters  calmed  before  them.  Only  the 
canoes  of  little  children  met  no  waves  but  the 
waters  parted  before  them,  leaving  a  luminous 
pathway  straight  to  the  Land  of  Souls. 

So  Waywassimo  learned  that  it  was  according 
to  their  faith,  and  all  fear  and  uncertainty  de 
parted  frpm  him  and  with  steady  arm  he  dipped 
his  paddle  and  smiled  back  at  Leelina  across  the 
water. 

Now  an  island  seemed  to  rise  out  of  the  lake 
before  his  eyes  and  an  invisible  hand  was  steer 
ing  him  straight  toward  its  sloping  shores,  on 


And    Other    Legends  13 

and  on  until  a  great  wave  swept  the  canoe  high 
upon  the  sandy  beach.  Looking  up  he  found  Lee- 
lina  before  him,  and  she  held  out  her  hands  to 
him,  with  a  smile  on  her  lips  and  the  light  of 
love  in  her  starry  eyes. 

"It  is  the  Happy  Island,"  she  said.  'The  Great 
Master  of  Life  has  permitted  us  to  tarry  here 
awhile,"  and  taking  his  hand  she  led  him  along 
the  shore  and  into  the  forest. 

Long  they  lingered  on  the  Happy  Island,  Way- 
wassimo  and  his  love,  Leelina.  Together  they 
wandered  over  green  and  sunny  meadows, 
through  the  dim  and  shadowy  woodlands,  listened 
to  the  songs  of  gladness,  to  the  robin  and  the  blue 
bird ;  heard  the  wind  among  the  branches,  heard 
the  rippling  of  the  waters,  heard  their  own 
hearts  throb  together  while  they  sat  in  blissful 
silence,  with  the  smiling  heavens  above  them  and 
the  smiling  earth  around  them.  The  icy  breath  of 
Kab-bi-bon-ok-ka  never  blew  upon  that  island, 
not  a  snowflake  from  the  Northland,  not  an  ice- 
crust  on  the  brooklets,  but  drowsy,  dreamy,  end 
less  Summer  reigned  upon  the  Happy  Island. 

Waywassimo  knew  not  how  long  they  lingered 


H  The   White   Canoe 

there  together,  for  light  of  sun  and  moon  there 
was  none,  naught  to  measure  days  in  passing, 
naught  to  mark  the  night  and  morning,  but  all 
was  one  long  radiant  noonday  and  the  smiles 
and  sighs  of  lovers  were  irs  light,  its  air,  its  sun 
shine. 

At  last  there  came  a  day  when  a  voice  spoke 
to  Waywassimo  out  of  the  perfumed  breezes,  say 
ing: 

"The  desire  of  your  soul  has  been  given  you. 
You  have  seen  Leelina  and  had  a  foretaste  of  the 
joy  which  shall  be  yours  when  you  are  summoned 
to  the  Land  of  Ponemah.  But  the  time  is  not 
yet.  It  is  ordained  that  you  return  to  your  people 
and  rule  them  for  many  years.  Not  in  sadness 
and  sorrow  shall  you  dwell  among  them,  but  as 
my  messenger  of  joy  and  peace.  Leelina  remains 
to  await  your  coming;  you  will  find  her  still 
young  and  beautiful  when  at  last  I  call  you  from 
the  Land  of  Snows." 

Then  Waywassimo  awoke  and  found  himself 
still  in  the  Valley  of  Bitterness  and  Tears. 


!        I 


And    Other    Legends  15 


M 


THE  REVENGE  OF  UNK-TE-HA. 

An  Ojibway  Legend  of  the  Flood. 

ANY  ages  ago  when  the  world  was  new 
and  the  gods  and  men  dwelt  together 
upon  it,  the  mighty  Wa-zha-wand,  who  had  cre 
ated  earth,  and  air,  and  water,  placed  three  great 
Manitous  to  rule  over  them  and  rested  from  his 
labors. 

Then  Unk-te-ha,  the  Manitou  of  Waters,  called 
together  the  tribes  of  men  and  laid  thus  his  com 
mands  upon  them: 

"Of  all  the  fish  that  are  in  the  waters  shalt  thou 
have  for  food.  Of  all  the  fowl  that  are  on  the 
marshlands,  and  of  every  creature  belonging  to 
my  kingdom  shalt  thou  have  to  eat.  Each  day 
shalt  thou  take  for  each  day's  need,  but  never  in 
distrust  of  the  goodness  of  Unk-te-ha  shalt  thou 
take  food  for  the  morrow,  and  never  in  wanton 
ness  shalt  thou  take  the  life  of  any  creature  be- 


1 6  The    White   Canoe 

longing  to  the  Kingdom  of  Waters.  Hear  and 
heed,  lest  the  anger  of  Unk-te-ha  come  upon  you 
and  he  slay  you." 

Now  Nanabozho  was  a  great  fisherman.  Every 
creature  of  the  Under-Water  World  knew  him, 
and  when  he  went  forth  on  the  Gitchee-Gumee  in 
his  canoe  of  birch-bark  up  from  the  green  and 
shadowy  depths  came  the  pike  and  the  sturgeon, 
came  all  the  fish  in  the  Kingdom  of  Waters,  and 
sported  about  the  canoe  and  played  with  the  bait 
of  Nanabozho. 

Cunning  were  they  and  very  active,  and  as 
they  dived  and  darted  in  the  water  they  dared  the 
skill  of  Nanabozho,  and  mocked  and  taunted  when 
he  could  not  take  them. 

Then  the  anger  of  Nanabozho  arose  strong 
against  them,  and  taking  his  magic  line  of  twisted 
cedar  he  threw  it  far  across  the  water.  Quickly 
the  fishes  dropped  to  the  floor  of  the  Gitchee- 
Gumee,  for  they  feared  the  magic  line  of  Nana 
bozho.  But  the  line  was  long  and  soon  it  found 
them,  and  without  hook  or  bait  it  drew  them, 
until  Nanabozho  covered  the  bottom  of  his  Chee- 
maun  with  the  panting  and  helpless  bodies  of  his 


And    Other    Legends  17 

tormentors.  The  dropping  sun  warned  him  that 
night  was  coming  on,  and  when  he  drew  his 
canoe  upon  the  shore,  he  found  that  it  contained 
more  fish  than  he  could  eat  in  many  days. 

At  evening,  when  Unk-te-ha  came  and  walked 
along  the  sandy  beach  he  found  the  canoe  of 
Nanabozho  and  in  it  the  fish  that  he  had  taken. 
Then  the  anger  of  Unk-te-ha  was  great  against 
Nanabozho,  because  he  had  forgotten  his  com 
mands,  and  he  determined  to  punish  him,  that 
never  again  should  a  mortal  forget  or  defy  the 
wrath  of  the  God  of  Waters. 

Long  Unk-te-ha  pondered  how  he  might  take 
Nanabozho  and  make  of  him  an  example  to  the 
people  forever,  for  he  was  wise  and  great  and 
very  cunning ;  more  cunning  by  far  than  any  crea 
ture  in  all  the  Upper  World,  and  Unk-te-ha  knew 
of  none  in  all  his  kingdom  wise  and  great 
enough  to  capture  Nanabozho. 

So  he  called  a  council  of  his  people  that  they 
might  talk  together  and  choose  one  of  their 
number  for  the  task.  At  his  command  the  White 
Loon,  the  door-keeper  of  the  Under- Water  World, 
went  forth  and  bade  the  people  come  to  the  coun- 


1 8  The    White   Canoe 

cil  of  Unk-te-ha.  The  Ken-o-zha,  the  Na-ma, 
and  all  the  fish  that  had  sported  about  the  canoe 
of  Nanabozho,  and  by  their  taunting  made  him 
forget  the  commands  of  Unk-te-ha,  came  to  the 
council  called  to  bring  him  to  punishment. 

Long  they  talked  and  wise  their  councils,  for 
much  they  feared  and  much  they  hated  Nana 
bozho,  and  while  they  talked  and  while  they  pon 
dered,  up  from  the  rivers  and  marshlands,  like 
a  mist  arose  the  smoke  of  their  Puk-wa-nas.  But 
naught  came  of  the  great  council,  for  when  the 
pipes  were  cold  and  empty,  when  the  smoke  had 
all  ascended,  not  one  bad  been  found  who  would 
undertake  to  capture  Nanabozho. 

Then  the  council  of  Unk-te-ha  was  dissolved 
and  the  anger  of  the  Manitou  of  Waters  was  hot 
against  his  own  people  for  their  cowardice  as  it 
was  against  his  enemy,  Nanabozho,  and  Unk-te-ha 
said:  "No  mortal  shall  forget  my  commands  or 
defy  my  laws,  for  if  one  goes  unpunished  then 
will  all  my  kingdom  be  despoiled.  Nanabozho 
shall  be  taken  though  I  send  all  the  waters  of  the 
Gitchee-Gumee  to  overwhelm  him/' 

On  the  same  day  as  Nanabozho  was  baking  a 


And    Other    Legends  19 

fish  before  his  camp-fire  at  evening,  a  Wawonaissa 
flew  into  a  bush  near  by  and  called  to  him : 

"Leave  your  fish  and  flee  to  the  mountains, 
Nanabozho,  for  behold!  the  great  Unk-te-ha  is 
angry,  and  he  has  sent  the  waters  of  the  Gitchee- 
Gumee  to  overwhelm  you." 

Nanabozho  looked  toward  the  spot  where  he 
had  left  his  canoe,  and  he  saw  the  waters  rising 
high  upon  the  shore,  then  he  knew  that  the 
Wawonaissa  had  spoken  truly,  and  that  the 
Under-Water  Manitou  sought  to  destroy  him. 
So  he  left  his  fish  on  the  twigs  before  the  fire, 
and  as  he  fled  he  looked  behind  him  and  saw  the 
oncoming  waters  sweep  over  the  spot  and  put  out 
his  camp-fire. 

Far  up  the  hillside  he  found  a  wolverine  bur 
rowing  into  the  earth. 

"Hide  me,  hide  me,  my  little  brother !"  Nana 
bozho  cried.  "Hide  me  deep  in  the  ground,  for 
I  have  angered  the  great  Unk-te-ha,  and  he  has 
sent  the  waters  of  the  Gitchee-Gumee  to  over 
whelm  me!" 

"Come  inside,  my  brother,"  the  wolverine  re 
plied,  "and  I  will  hide  you  so  deep  that  no  crea- 


20  The    White   Canoe 

ture  of  the  Under- Water  World  will  ever  find 
you." 

Into  the  burrow  went  Nanabozho  with  his  little 
brother,  the  wolverine,  and  they  dug  deep  into 
the  heart  of  the  mountain,  casting  the  earth  be 
hind  them  so  that  the  opening  was  filled  against 
the  pursuing  waters.  But  all  in  vain  was  the 
labor  of  the  wolverine,  for  soon  little  rivulets 
penetrated  the  burrow,  and  Nanabozho  knew  that 
he  would  be  imprisoned  and  starved  by  the  up 
rising  waters,  if  he  was  not  drowned. 

Then  he  besought  the  wolverine  to  open  a  way 
for  him  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain,  as  far 
as  might  be  from  the  shore  of  the  Gitchee-Gumee, 
but  when  Nanabozho  looked  out  again  upon  the 
earth,  he  saw  that  not  upon  the  highest  moun 
tain  could  he  find  safety.  Over  all  the  world 
spread  the  waters  of  the  Gitchee-Gumee,  creeping 
through  the  valleys,  rising  along  the  hillsides,  and 
in  all  the  earth  there  was  not  a  spot  where  they 
might  not  find  him. 

Nanabozho  knew  that  all  his  wisdom  and 
all  his  skill  would  be  required  to  save 
him  from  the  anger  of  the  God  of  Waters. 


And    Other    Legends  21 

Then  he  remembered  that  not  lie  alone 
would  suffer,  but  all  his  friends  of  the 
Upper  World,  so  he  determined  to  call  a 
council  of  his  people,  as  the  God  of  Waters  had 
done,  that  they  might  conspire  together  to  save 
themselves  and  defeat  the  revenge  of  Unk-te-ha. 

So  he  sent  the  flying  turtle,  the  messenger  of 
the  Ojibways,  abroad  over  the  land  with  a  mes 
sage  to  his  people  that  they  meet  him  in  council. 

Quickly  they  came  at  the  summons  of  Nana- 
bozho,  for  was  he  not  their  elder  brother,  wise 
and  great  and  good  to  look  upon,  the  beloved  of 
the  Great  Spirit  ?  From  the  meadows  and  the  low 
lands,  from  the  forests  and  the  prairies,  came  the 
friends  of  Nanabozho, — came  the  deer,  the  Skan- 
odo,  came  the  squirrel  and  the  rabbit,  came  the 
elk  and  the  bison — all  the  friends  of  Nanabozho 
swiftly  came  at  his  summons. 

Then,  as  he  filled  a  pipe  with  fragrant  leaves 
and  gave  it  to  them,  thus  spake  Nanabozho : 

"Hear  me,  O  my  brothers,  for  little  time  is  left 
for  speaking.  I  have  angered  Unk-te-ha,  the 
Manitou  of  Waters,  and  because  there  was  none 
in  his  kingdom  strong  and  brave  enough  to  take 


22  The    White   Canoe 

Nanabozho,  he  has  sent  all  the  waters  of  the 
Gitchee-Gumee  to  overwhelm  him.  But  behold, 
O  my  brothers,  not  I  alone  must  suffer  but  every 
creature  of  the  Upper  World  must  perish  that 
Unk-te-ha  be  avenged.  Shall  it  be  so,  my  broth 
ers?  Are  we  not  yet  strong  and  wise  and  cun 
ning  enough  to  defeat  the  wrath  of  the  God  of 
Waters  and  save  ourselves?  If  you  will  but  help 
me  we  will  show  to  the  tribes  of  men  that  Unk- 
te-ha  is  not  a  mighty  Manitou  but  a  Shau-go- 
dai-a,  who  is  not  able  to  take  the  friends  of 
Nanabozho  in  battle.  Let  us  built  a  raft,  my 
brothers,  great  and  strong,  so  that  every  creature 
of  the  Upper  World  may  come  upon  it  and  be 
saved." 

Even  as  he  spake  they  replied  with  one  voice 
of  assent :  "It  shall  be  as  our  brother  Nanabozho 
wills.  Let  us  build  a  raft  which  will  float  in 
safety  all  the  friends  of  Nanabozho,  that  they 
may  mock  the  anger  of  Unk-te-ha!" 

There  upon  the  top  of  the  mountain  they  built 
the  raft.  Strong  and  firm  they  made  it,  and 
when  the  rising  waters  lifted  it  from  the  summit 
on  it  were  gathered  in  safety  all  the  friends 


And    Other    Legends  23 

of  Nanabozho,  all  the  animals  of  the  forests  and 
the  prairies,  but  no  creature  of  his  own  kind  was 
with  Nanabozho  on  the  raft. 

Many  days  they  floated  on  the  waters  and 
around  the  raft  came  the  people  of  the  kingdom 
of  Unk-te-ha  to  mock  and  taunt  them,  for  now 
that  there  were  no  lands  to  hunt  in,  no  fields  of 
rice,  and  corn,  and  berries,  they  hoped  that 
Nanabozho  and  his  friends  would  starve  on  the 
raft  which  they  had  made.  But  it  was  not  so, 
for  still  they  had  the  magic  line  of  twisted  cedar, 
and  when  they  cast  it  into  the  waters,  they  drew 
up  fish  so  that  they  had  food  enough  and  to 
spare. 

By  and  by  the  friends  of  Nanabozho  wearied 
of  the  raft  and  longed  for  the  forests  and  prairies 
of  their  own  country.  Then  they  determined  to 
send  one  of  their  number,  that  he  might  dive 
into  the  water  and  find  how  far  the  land  lay  be 
low.  The  otter  was  the  first  to  make  the  effort, 
but  after  remaining  long  under  the  water  he 
came  back  without  having  found  any  trace  of 
land.  Again  he  dived,  but  though  they  waited 
and  watched  for  him  long,  he  never  came  back 


24  The    White   Canoe 

to  the  raft,  for  Unk-te-ha  lay  in  wait  for  him 
and  drew  him  into  his  lodge  in  the  Under- 
Water  World,  so  that  he  might  carry  no  mes 
sages  to  his  brothers  on  the  raft. 

Again  Nanabozho  and  his  friends  took  council 
together  and  the  musk-rat  was  selected  to  go  in 
search  of  land.  Long  he  remained  under  water, 
so  long  that  his  brothers  on  the  raft  feared  that 
he,  too,  had  been  captured  and  carried  to  the 
lodge  of  the  Under- Water  Manitou,  but  at  last 
his  dead  body  appeared  floating  on  the  water  and 
was  drawn  up  on  the  raft. 

When  Nanabozho  examined  the  body  of  their 
little  brother,  he  found  that  the  tightly  closed 
paws  were  filled  with  moist  earth.  Then  he  said 
to  his  friends  on  the  raft:  "Be  happy,  O  my 
brothers,  for  we  are  saved.  The  great  Unk-te-ha 
will  never  call  back  this  flood  that  we  may  have 
our  own  lands  to  hunt  in,  our  own  rivers  to  fish 
in  and  our  own  fields  to  plant  the  Mondamin. 
But  the  great  Master  of  Life  has  seen  our  weari 
ness  upon  this  raft,  and  has  had  pity  on  his  peo 
ple,  so  he  has  sent  a  new  earth  that  we  may  not 
float  forever  on  this  flood  of  waters." 


And    Other    Legends  25 

When  Nanabozho  had  ceased  speaking,  he  took 
a  bit  of  earth  from  the  paw  of  the  musk-rat,  and, 
rubbing  it  dry  upon  the  palm  of  his  hand,  he  held 
it  before  his  lips,  and  with  the  breath  of  his 
mouth  blew  it  far  out  upon  the  waters.  Then 
before  their  eyes,  where  the  earth  fell,  there  grew 
up  an  island  large  enough  to  afford  a  resting  place 
for  the  raft. 

''But  what  avails  this  barren  island?"  the 
brothers  of  Nanabozho  pleaded  when  once  they 
felt  the  solid  earth  beneath  their  feet.  'There 
are  no  forests  and  prairies,  and  nothing  but  fish 
to  eat.  We  are  weary,  O  our  elder  brother,  and 
long  for  the  green  forests,  the  roaring  rivers 
and  rushing  winds  of  our  Northland." 

So  they  vexed  Nanabozho  with  their  complain 
ing  until  he  made  a  lodge  apart  and  went  into  it, 
that  by  fasting  and  prayer  he  might  learn  of  the 
Gitchee  Manitou  how  to  relieve  his  brothers  and 
free  himself  of  their  repining. 

Six  days  he  remained  in  the  fasting-lodge, 
tasting  no  food  until  a  Spirit  came  to  him  in  his 
dreams  and  told  him  the  will  of  the  Master  of 
Life  concerning  them.  On  the  seventh  day  Nana- 


26  The   White  Canoe 

bozho  came  out  of  the  fasting-lodge  and 
asked  food  of  his  brothers.  When  he  had 
eaten,  he  arose  and  walked  to  the  edge  of  the 
water,  and,  taking  up  a  handful  of  earth,  he 
rubbed  it  dry  in  the  palm  of  his  hand,  and,  hold 
ing  it  before  his  lips,  with  the  breath  of  his  mouth 
he  blew  it  out  upon  the  water.  Where  it  fell 
there  arose  other  earth  and  joined  to  the  island, 
and  so  he -walked  around  the  shore  blowing  hand- 
fuls  of  earth  upon  the  water,  while  his  brothers 
followed  him  and  watched  the  island  grow. 

Many  days  Nanabozho  worked  as  the  Gitchee- 
Manitou  had  directed  him,  stopping  to  rest 
when  he  was  weary,  and  eating  the  food  that 
was  brought  to  him  when  he  was  hungry,  until  at 
last  the  earth  stretched  behind  him  farther  than 
the  eye  could  see.  Then  he  sent  out  the  Singebis 
that  she  might  go  around  the  island  and  bring 
back  to  him  word  of  its  size.  Each  day  he  sent 
out  scouts,  and,  as  it  took  them  longer  and  longer 
to  complete  the  circuit,  he  knew  how  rapidly  the 
island  grew. 

At  last  there  came  a  day  when  the  messenger 
did  not  return,  neither  the  next  nor  the  next,  and 


And    Other    Legends  27 

Nanabozho  knew  that  it  had  grown  to  be  a  great 
land,  with  broad  prairies  and  mighty  forests,  with 
rushing  rivers  and  placid  lakes,  and  that  his 
brothers  who  were  with  him  on  the  raft,  were  now 
scattered  abroad  over  it  never  to  be  gathered  to 
gether  again. 

While  Nanabozho  pondered  on  the  strange  and 
wonderful  thing  which  had  happened,  a  beautiful 
light  began  to  steal  across  the  sky  and  drop  its 
reflection  in  the  water;  a  light  such  as  he  had 
never  seen  before,  tender  like  the  glow  in  the  east 
at  morning,  and  trembling  like  the  silver  track  of 
the  moon  on  the  water.  Brighter  and  brighter 
it  grew,  until  it  took  upon  itself  a  shape  like  unto 
the  curve  of  his  bow  of  ash  wood,  and  glorious 
with  the  dyes  of  all  the  flowers  that  grew  upon 
the  Muskoday  in  springtime. 

Then,  while  Nanabozho.  gazed  in  awe  and  won 
der,  the  White  Loon  came  floating  to  him  along 
the  curve  of  the  many-colored  bow,  and  as  she 
sailed  straight  to  his  feet,  this  is  the  message  she 
bore: 

"It  is  a  sign  to  you,  my  brother,  that  the  Unk- 
te-ha  ,has  forgiven,  and  that  never  again  wifl 


28  The    White   Canoe 

there  be  enmity  between  the  children  of  earth 
and  the  people  of  the  Under- Water  World.  Cast 
your  line  into  the  water  and  you  will  find  an  offer 
ing  from  Unk-te-ha,  and  as  long  as  you  shall  see 
the  many-colored  bow  in  the  heavens  you  will 
know  that  the  Manitou  of  Waters  is  your  friend." 

Then  Nanabozho  cast  his  line  into  the  water 
as  the  White  Loon  had  directed,  but  when  he 
would  pull  it  in  he  felt  it  draw  and  tighten  so  that 
all  his  strength  was  required  to  bring  it  to  shore. 
When  it  was  done  he  found  a  great  fish  upon  the 
sand  at  his  feet,  armored  with  bone  and  striped 
like  a  warrior  with  war  paint.  It  was  the  Nishe- 
Nama,  the  King  of  Fishes,  an  offering  of  good 
will  from  Unk-te-ha  to  Nanabozho. 

So  Nanabozho  stripped  the  bark  from  the 
birch  trees  and  made  him  a  wigwam  to  live  in. 
A  bow  of  ash  wood  also  made  he,  and  with  ar 
rows  filled  his  quiver.  Into  the  forest  he  went 
once  more  to  hunt  the  bear,  and  deer  and  bison. 
At  night  he  cooked  his  meat  before  the  camp-fire, 
and  smoked  his  pipe  filled  with  leaves  and  bark 
of  willows.  But  Nanabozho  was  lonely,  for  there 
was  no  one  to  hear  his  stories  and  smoke  a  pipe 


And    Other    Legends  29 

with  him  beside  the  camp-fire,  and  he  longed  for 
one  of  his  own  kind  to  bear  him  company. 

Again  he  built  a  wigwam  apart  and  went  into 
it  to  fast,  that  the  Master  of  Life  might  look  upon 
him  in  his  loneliness  and  send  other  people  to  be 
with  him  upon  the  earth. 

Six  days  he  fasted  and  no  food  passed  his  lips. 
On  the  seventh  day  as  he  lay  on  his  mat  of  rushes 
weak  with  hunger,  a  voice  came  to  him  out  of 
the  sky,  saying: 

"I  have  heard  your  prayers,  O  Nanabozho,  and 
seen  your  fasting.  It  is  not  given  me  to  enter 
the  dwellings  of  men,  but  you  may  come  to  the 
lodge  of  the  Gitchee-Manitou  that  we  may  take 
council  together  how  the  new  earth  may  be  peo 
pled  with  those  of  your  own  kind." 

As  the  voice  ceased  Nanabozho  felt  himself 
slowly  rising  into  the  air  until  he  passed  through 
an  opening  in  the  heavens  and  entered  the  lodge 
of  the  Gitchee-Manitou. 

Many  days  lasted  the  great  council  of  Nana 
bozho  and  the  Gitchee-Manitou,  and  many  pipes 
they  smoked  together  while  the  great  Master  of 
Life  told  him  of  the  tribes  that  would  be  sent  on 


30  The    White  Canoe 

the  earth  and  how  he  should  rule  them  in  love. 
Then,  when  the  council  was  ended,  Nanabozlio 
saw  the  heavens  opened  and  heard  the  voice  of 
the  Master  of  Life  sayng: 

"Go,  my  son,  to  a  land  and  a  people  that  will 
be  ready  for  you.  Remember  all  the  words  I 
have  spoken  to  you  that  you  rule  them  in  kind 
ness  and  love.  Let  war  and  bloodshed  cease, 
and  as  long  as  the  many-colored  bow  remains  as 
a  sign  of  the  peace  of  Unk-te-ha  let  there  also  be 
peace  among  the  tribes  of  men.  Not  in  your. own 
body  do  I  send  you  back,  but  as  a  great  White 
Eagle  will  you  return  to  earth.  Far  below  you, 
where  lies  a  shining  spot  like  a  bead  of  wampum 
on  a  belt  of  green,  will  you  find  the  Big-Sea- 
Water.  In  all  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  new 
land  which  I  have  made  this  spot  I  have  kept  as 
the  home  of  my  chosen  people.  Here  the  forests 
are  greener,  the  meadows  are  fairer ;  here  are  all 
things  needful  for  the  life  and  happiness  of  my 
people,  and  from  the  dawn  of  Seg-wun,  tho 
Spring,  until  the  coming  of  Pe-bo-an,  the  Win 
ter,  the  land  is  as  fair  as  the  smile  of  the  Great 
Spirit  can  make  it.  Go,  my  son,  and  when  you 


And   Other    Legends  31 

reach  the  shores  of  the  shining  Big-Sea-Water, 
pluck  from  beneath  your  wings  the  soft  and 
downy  feathers,  and  scatter  them  on  the  earth. 
Do  all  things  as  I  have  commanded  you,  for  I 
speak  with  you  face  to  face  no  more  until  you 
come  to  me  in  the  Islands  of  the  Blessed,  in  the 
land  of  Ponemah!" 

Thus  Nanabozho  left  the  lodge  and  council 
t)f  the  Gitchee-Manitou,  and  came  back  to  earth 
in  the  form  of  a  great  White  Eagle,  but  as  he 
drew  near  the  shores  of  the  Big-Sea-Water  he 
saw  no  sign  of  the  people  whom  he  had  been  told 
would  be  there  to  receive  him.  Yet  Nanabozho 
doubted  not,  for  he  knew  that  the  Master  of  Life 
could  not  lie;  and,  remembering  all  things  that 
he  had  told  him,  he  plucked  the  white  and  downy 
feathers  from  beneath  his  wings  and  scattered 
them  along  the  shore.  Then  he  looked  behind 
him,  where  the  feathers  had  fallen  to  the  earth, 
and  he  saw  men  and  women  walking  where  none 
had  been  before.  And  Nanabozho  knew  that  thus 
was  fulfilled  the  promise  of  the  Gitchee-Manitou 
that  he  should  not  be  left  alone,  and  that  thus  he 
had  sent  his  chosen  people  upon  the  earth. 


32  The    White   Canoe 

And  to-day,  along  the  shores  of  the  Big-Sea- 
Water  are  the  lodges  and  the  camp-fires,  the 
hunting-grounds  and  the  corn  fields  of  a  peace 
ful  and  happy  people — the  people  whom  the  Great 
Spirit  sent  to  earth  on  the  wings  of  Nanabozho, 
and  we  call  them  the  Ojibways. 


I  '  dfe  .  1 1 


•I  I    I  II 

j  him  DAUGHTERS 

ti  •'  J    I     V    t 


o 


[mm 

lilt  STARS          I 


<  THH|  STARS 
ill       1    '        i    J 


And   Other    Legends  33 


THE  DAUGHTERS  OF  THE  STARS. 

WAU-PEE,  the  White  Hawk,  lived  alone 
in  his  lodge  in  the  midst  of  the 
forest.  It  was  not  because  Wau-pee  was  old, 
or  ugly,  or  feeble  that  he  lived  alone,  for  he 
was  young,  and  straight,  and  strong,  and  many 
of  the  maidens  in  the  village  followed  him  with 
tender  glances  when  he  came  to  join  the  young 
men  in  their  games  and  the  old  men  in  their  coun 
cils. 

It  was  only  because  Wau-pee  loved  the  still 
ness  of  the  forest  better  than  the  chattering  of 
women  in  his  wigwam  that  he  cooked  his  own 
food  and  kept  his  own  lodge-fire  burning.  Never 
once  did  he  look  back  to  meet  the  tender  glances 
of  the  maidens,  and  never  once  did  he  linger  in 
the  village  when  the  games  and  councils  were 
ended,  for  his  heart  went  after  the  rippling  waters 
and  singing  winds  and  his  own  wigwam  in  the 
dim  forest. 


34  The    White   Canoe 

When  Wau-pee  put  arrows  into  his  quiver  and 
went  forth  into  the  forest  to  hunt,  he  came  not 
home  empty-handed.  There  were  skins  in  his 
lodge,  and  wampum,  and  food,  and  the  voices  of 
the  forest  spoke  to  the  soul  of  the  White  Hawk, 
so  he  lived  alone,  remote  from  the  villages  of  his 
people,  and  he  was  rich  and  happy. 

But  one  day  there  came  a  change.  The  sing 
ing  of  the  wind  sounded  not  so  sweet  to  Wau- 
pee,  but  mournfully  sighed  around  the  wigwam 
until  his  heart  grew  heavy  with  loneliness  and  he 
longed  for  a  human  voice  to  answer  to  his  own. 
At  night  sleep  departed  from  his  eyelids  and  he 
lay  until  morning  staring  into  the  darkness  and 
longing  for  the  dawn. 

Many  days  and  many  nights  Wau-pee  strug 
gled  with  the  silence  and  darkness  and  with  the 
strange  unrest  which  had  come  upon  his  spirit; 
then  one  day  he  arose  at  daybreak  and  said:  "I 
will  go  to  the  village  and  bring  back  a  wife  to  be 
with  me  in  the  wigwam,  to  laugh  and  sing  and 
make  rnerry,  for  this  loneliness  is  greater  than  I 
can  bear." 

Then  Wau-pee  dressed  himself  in  all  his  rich- 


And    Other    Legends  35 

est  garments,  trimmed  with  wampum,  decked 
with  feathers,  and  went  into  the  village  to  find 
him  a  wife.  But  where  once  they  had  followed 
him  with  tender  glances,  the  maidens  now  looked 
upon  him  coldly,  and  not  one  was  found  to  re 
spond  to  his  tardy  wooing.  So  Wau-pee  left  the 
village  and  turned  his  face  again  toward  his 
lodge  in  the  forest,  but  now  his  heart  was  heavy 
and  the  singing  of  the  wind  and  the  laughter  of 
the  waters  drew  him  not  as  they  had  done  be 
fore. 

Longer  and  lonelier  grew  the  days  from  dawn 
to  darkness,  and  drearier  the  nights,  for  Ne-pah- 
win,  the  Spirit  of  Sleep,  had  departed  from  the 
lodge  of  the  White  Hawk,  and  now  he  knew  that 
he  should  not  find  a  wife  among  the  daughters 
of  his  people  and  no  longer  could  the  voices  of 
the  forest  satisfy. 

Then,  one  day  Wau-pee  came  to  himself  and 
found  that  he  was  weak  and  faint  with  long  fast 
ing  and  there  was  nothing  to  eat  in  the  lodge,  so 
he  put  arrows  into  his  quiver  and  went  forth  to 
find  food.  But  his  heart  was  not  in  the  chase, 
and  he  walked  with  his  head  bowed  and  his  eyes 


36  The    White  Canoe 

bent  unheeding  on  the  ground,  so  that  he  saw  not 
the  track  of  the  red  deer  that  crossed  his  path 
way  and  there  was  nothing  to  lure  him  aside  or 
tempt  the  arrows  from  his  quiver. 

At  last  he  came  to  the  end  of  the  forest  and 
found  himself  standing  on  the  border  of  a  beau 
tiful  grassy  plain.  It  was  sprinkled  with  many 
colored  flowers,  and  in  the  center  was  a  circle 
worn  as  by  the  tramping  of  many  feet.  Wau- 
pee  looked  in  wonder  at  the  flowery  plain,  with 
its  circling  pathway,  for  he  knew  that  no  animals 
of  the  forest  and  no  creatures  of  his  own  kind 
could  have  made  it  without  leaving  some  trace  of 
their  coming  and  their  departure. 

While  Wau-pee  stood  in  the  edge  of  the  for 
est  gazing  at  this  strange  sight,  the  sound  of 
music  came  faintly  to  his  ears.  Not  from  the 
forest  behind  him,  nor  yet  from  the  plain  lying 
out  before,  but  dropping  from  the  sky  above 
came  the  sounds,  nearer  and  nearer,  silvery  and 
sweet,  such  music  as  Wau-pee  had  never  heard. 
Now  it  seemed  directly  overhead,  and  as  he 
looked  up  he  saw  a  strange  object  descending  out 
of  the  heavens ;  and,  straining  his  eager  eyes,  he 


And   Other    Legends  37 

discerned  it  to  be  a  great  basket  in  which  sat 
twelve  women. 

Then  Wau-pee  remembered  the  stories  the 
old  men  in  the  village  had  told  him  of  the  twelve 
Daughters  of  the  Stars ;  how  a  man  once  having 
looked  upon  them,  never  saw  beauty  in  the  face 
of  another  woman,  and  once  having  heard  the 
alluring  music  of  their  voices,  never  found  peace 
on  the  earth  again.  Strange  stories  they  had 
told  of  these  beautiful  maidens  who  only  came 
to  earth  to  tempt  and  try  the  souls  of  men,  but 
who  never  might  wed  with  mortals  or  live  in  the 
country  below  the  stars. 

Straight  toward  the  center  of  the  circle  came 
the  great  basket,  and  as  it  drew  near  Wau-pee 
saw  that  all  the  old  men  had  told  him  of  their 
beauty  was  true,  for  he  had  seen  none  to  compare 
with  them,  not  in  the  villages  of  his  own  people 
nor  in  the  lodges  of  stranger  tribes. 

He  saw  that  each  maiden  carried  two  slender 
wands  tipped  with  silver  balls,  and  as  the  basket 
touched  the  earth  they  leaped  out  and  danced 
and  whirled  around  the  magic  circle,  striking  to 
gether  the  balls  as  they  danced. 


38  The   White  Canoe 

Wilder  and  wilder  grew  the  dance  and  more 
alluringly  sweet  the  music.  The  eyes  of  the 
maidens  glowed  under  their  flying  tresses,  and 
their  voices  mingled  with  the  silver  clashing  of 
the  balls.  Wau-pee's  pulses  leaped  and  the  blood 
coursed  tingling  through  his  veins.  Forgotten 
were  the  warnings  of  the  old  men,  forgotten  the 
fate  of  the  young  men  who  had  suffered  their 
hearts  to  go  after  the  Daughters  of  the  Stars. 
All  his  soul  was  consumed  with  the  desire  to 
capture  one  of  the  dancing  maidens  and  carry 
her  away  to  be  his  wife  and  live  with  him  in  his 
wigwam  in  the  forest. 

Slowly  he  crept  forward  from  his  hiding  place, 
gliding  stealthily  from  tree  to  tree,  until  he 
reached  a  point  near  the  magic  circle;  then,  as 
the  youngest  and  most  beautiful  of  the  maidens 
whirled  past  him,  he  sprang  toward  her  with  out 
stretched  arms. 

Swift  as  were  his  movements,  the  Daughters 
of  the  Stars  were  swifter,  and  before  he  could 
reach  the  magic  circle  they  were  all  safely  in  the 
basket  and  ascending  into  the  sky. 

Sad   and   disappointed,   Wau-pee   returned   to 


And    Other    Legends  39 

his  lodge  to  meditate  alone  upon  the  beauty  of 
the  maidens  and  the  sweetness  of  their  voices. 
Next  day  when  he  went  into  the  forest  he  put 
no  arrows  into  his  quiver,  for  the  necessity  of 
food  was  forgotten,  and  the  only  desire  remain 
ing  in  the  breast  of  the  White  Hawk  was  that  he 
might  again  behold  the  beautiful  Daughters  of 
the  Stars. 

Straight  toward  the  flowery  plain  he  made  his 
way.  Hoping  to  approach  nearer  the  maidens, 
he  resolved  to  use  the  magic  power  acquired  at 
his  first  fasting;  and,  changing  himself  into  the 
form  of  an  opossum,  he  concealed  himself  behind 
a  fallen  log  and  awaited  their  coming. 

Again  he  heard  the  far,  sweet  music  falling 
from  the  sky,  and  then  the  basket  came  in  sight 
bearing  the  twelve  sisters  to  their  playground  on 
the  flowery  plain.  Leaping  out  of  the  basket, 
they  struck  all  the  silvery  balls  together  until  the 
air  tingled  and  vibrated  with  the  sound,  and  as 
they  whirled  past  his  hiding  place  Wau-pef 
heard  the  rustling  of  their  garments  and  caught 
the  nearer  gleam  of  their  starry  eyes. 

Stealing  from  behind  the  fallen  log,  he  made 


40  The    White   Canoe 

his  way  cautiously  toward  the  circle,  but  sud 
denly  the  music  stopped  with  a  crash,  and  before 
the  White  Hawk  could  advance  or  retreat  the 
maidens  had  leaped  into  the  car  and  were  rising 
into  the  air. 

Again  Wau-pee  returned  in  sorrow  to  his 
lodge.  Now  he  had  looked  longer  upon  the  Star- 
Maidens,  and  all  beauty  had  departed  from  the 
earth.  There  was  naught  in  the  voices  of  the 
forest,  in  the  rushing  of  the  rivers,  in  the  echoes 
of  the  mountains,  or  the  smiling,  silent  valleys  to 
satisfy  the  soul  of  the  White  Hawk.  Only  when 
the  stars  of  evening  trembled  in  the  sky  above 
him  did  he  gaze  enrapt  and  dreaming  of  the 
tender,  radiant  beauty  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
Starland,  daughters  of  the  chieftain  O-jis-hon-da. 

Another  night  Wau-pee  spent  beside  his  lodge- 
fire  planning  how  he  might  outwit  them  and  cap 
ture  one  of  the  maidens  to  be  his  wife. 

Again  he  left  his  bow  and  arrows  in  the  wig 
wam  and  went  out  to  the  flowery  plain  beyond 
the  forest.  As  he  looked  about,  seeking  how 
he  might  hide  himself  near  the  magic  circle, 
he  beheld  the  trunk  of  a  dead  tree  standing 


And    Other    Legends  41 

beside  the  pathway,  and  about  it  were  some 
field-mice  scampering  in  and  out  the  hollow 
spaces.  Then  the  thought  came  to  Wau-pee 
to  take  upon  himself  the  form  of  one  of 
these  small  creatures  that  he  might  easier  ap 
proach  the  maidens  unobserved. 

As  on  other  days  the  basket  descended  heralded 
by  the  music  of  the  silver  balls.  But  now  the 
Daughters  of  the  Stars  had  grown  very  cautious 
and  they  did  not  begin  their  dance  at  once,  but 
looked  about  to  see  if  there  might  be  a  spy  upon 
their  movements.  There  was  nothing  in  sight 
save  the  trunk  of  a  dead  tree  with  the  mice  scam 
pering  about  it,  but  as  if  to  make  sure  that  noth 
ing  larger  could  be  hidden  within,  the  youngest 
of  the  sisters  approached  and  struck  it  a  blow 
with  her  silver  ball.  And  then  there  sprang  up 
at  her  side  a  tall  young  man,  who  seized  her  in 
his  arms  and  bore  her  away  into  the  forest.  In 
vain  she  called  to  her  sisters  for  help,  for  they, 
seeing  that  they  could  not  save  her,  sprang  into 
the  car  and  arose  quickly  into  the  air. 

Very  tenderly  Wau-pee  comforted  the  Star- 
Maiden  as  he  bore  her  away  to  his  lodge  in  the 


42  The   White  Canoe 

forest.  The  wands  with  their  silver  balls  he  con 
cealed  beneath  a  heap  of  skins,  that  there  might 
be  nothing  to  remind  her  of  the  life  from  which 
he  had  taken  her,  and  then  with  gentle  wooing 
he  won  the  heart  of  the  Star-Maiden  until  she 
became  reconciled  to  have  for  her  husband  the 
brave  and  handsome  White  Hawk. 

Very  happy  were  the  lovers.  Wau-pee  taught 
the  Star-Maiden  how  to  cook  their  food  and  dress 
the  skins,  and  to  make  beautiful  their  garments 
with  quills,  and  dyes,  and  wampum ;  and  as  she 
sat  beside  him  and  listened  to  his  stories  while  she 
worked,  she  forgot  her  sisters  in  Starland  and  the 
magic  circle  on  the  flowery  plain. 

But  bye  and  bye,  when  many  moons  had  passed 
Wau-pee  went  again  to  the  forest  to  hunt,  and 
the  Star-Maiden  was  left  alone  in  the  lodge, 
Then  her  thoughts  returned  to  her  sisters  and  to 
her  aged  father  O-jis-hon-da,  who  had  sorely 
missed  her  and  grieved  for  her  many  days.  Very 
long  and  lonely  were  the  hours  while  Wau-pee 
was  away  in  the  forest,  for  there  were  no  voices 
to  speak  to  the  maiden,  and  more  and  more  her 


And    Other    Legends  43 

heart  went  after  her  own  people  and  her  own 
home  in  the  distant  Starland. 

One  day  she  found  the  silver  balls,  which  Wau- 
pee  had  hidden  when  first  he  brought  her  to  his 
lodge.  When  she  struck  them  together  and  their 
music  smote  her  ear,  all  her  soul  awoke  with 
longing,  and  she  knew  that  the  decree  of  the 
Master  of  Life  must  be  fulfilled,  and  that  it  was 
.not  given  her  to  live  among  mortals  or  to  find 
happiness  below  the  Stars. 

Day  after  day  Wau-pee  left  the  lodge  with  his 
bow  and  arrows,  and  day  after  day  the  maiden 
remained  alone  with  only  the  music  of  the  silver 
balls  for  company.  When  Wau-pee  returned  at 
evening  he  found  her  moving  with  slow  step  and 
eyes  heavy  as  a  sky  overcast  with  rain-clouds. 

Thus  passed  the  Moon  of  Snow-Shoes,  then 
the  ice  melted  in  the  lakes  and  rivers,  and  the 
snow  disappeared  from  the  sheltered  coves  and 
hollows  in  the  forest.  Along  the  streams  appeared 
the  tender  green  of  sprouting  rushes  and  the  trees 
in  the  forest  flushed  with  swelling  buds.  Seg- 
wun,  the  Spring,  had  breathed  upon  the  meadows 
and  the  song  of  O-wa-issa  was  heard  in  the  land. 


44  The    White   Canoe 

Then  the  maiden  remembered  the  flowery  plain 
where  she  had  danced  with  her  sisters  through 
many  Summers,  and  her  heart  grew  sick  with 
longing  and  her  eyes  heavy  with  weeping,  so  that 
when  Wait-pee  came  home  from  the  hunt  he 
found  no  kettle  bubbling  over  the  fire  and  no  fish 
baking  on  the  coals. 

One  day  after  the  White  Hawk  had  left  the 
lodge  the  maiden  went  out  to  the  meadows  and 
returning  with  an  armful  of  rushes  she  fell  to 
braiding  a  basket.  All  day  her  fingers  moved 
swiftly,  in  and  out  among  the  rushes,  weaving 
them  close  and  strong,  and  while  she  worked  she 
sang  softly  to  herself,  the  same  strange,  alluring 
music  to  which  she  had  danced  with  her  sisters 
on  the  flowery  plain.  Then  when  evening  came 
she  hid  the  basket  under  a  heap  of  skins  and 
hung  the  kettle  over  the  lodge-fire,  that  there 
might  be  food  ready  against  Wau-pee's  return. 
There  were  no  tears  that  night  in  the  eyes  of  the 
Star-Maiden  as  they  shone  on  the  White  Hawk 
from  the  shadows  beyond  the  lodge-fire,  but  they 
glowed  strange  and  mysterious  in  the  dusk, 


And    Other    Legends  45 

thrilling  but  remote  as  the  lamps  that  shone  in 
the  sky  above  them. 

On  the  next  day  and  the  next,  after  Wait-pee 
had  gone  out  into  the  forest,  the  Star-Maiden 
brought  forth  the  basket  of  rushes  from  its  hid 
ing  place  and  braided  and  sang  until  the  coming 
of  evening.  At  last  the  basket  was  finished  and 
for  many  days  it  lay  hidden  under  the  heap  of 
skins,  for  now  that  all  things  were  ready  for  her 
departure  the  heart  of  the  Star-Maiden  yearned 
over  her  brave  and  handsome  husband,  and  she 
longed  to  carry  him  with  her  to  her  own  home  in 
Starland.  But  this  was  not  permitted  her,  and 
one  balmy  day  in  the  Moon  of  Leaves,  after  Wau- 
pee  had  gone  away  into  the  forest,  she  brought 
forth  the  basket  and  hurried  with  it  through 
the  forest.  Running,  stumbling  over  stumps  and 
stones  and  roots  of  trees,  she  made  her  way  to 
the  flowery  plain.  Straight  to  the  center  of  the 
circle  she  bore  the  basket,  and,  seating  herself  in 
it,  she  struck  together  the  silver  balls.  Once, 
twice,  thrice,  then  she  lifted  her  voice  in  the 
strange,  swreet  chant  which  had  entranced  the  ears 
of  the  White  Hawk  on  that  first  day  when  he  be- 


46  The   White  Canoe 

held  the  Daughters  of  the  Stars  descending  to 
earth. 

Loud  and  clear  rang  her  voice,  mingling  with 
the  crash  of  the  silver  balls,  and  as  she  sang  she 
forgot  the  brave  and  handsome  White  Hawk,  for 
got  the  lodge  that  she  had  left  in  the  forest,  forgot 
everything  save  her  sisters  and  her  father,  the  old 
chief  of  Starland,  whom  she  had  not  seen  for 
many  moons. 

Now  Wau-pee,  weary  and  unsuccessful  in  the 
hunt,  was  returning  to  his  lodge,  when  suddenly 
there  came  to  him  on  the  wind  the  sound  of  dis 
tant  music.  Then  his  feet  halted  in  the  forest 
pathway,  and  his  heart  stood  still  in  his  breast, 
for  he  knew  it  to  be  the  same  alluring  music  which 
heralded  the  arrival  and  departure  of  the  Daugh 
ters  of  the  Stars.  But  now  there  was  only  one 
voice  singing,  the  voice  which  for  twelve  moons 
had  made  music  in  his  own  wigwam. 

Fleet  as  the  swiftest  deer,  Wau-pee  sped 
toward  the  plain,  but  when  he  reached  the  border 
of  the  forest  he  saw  a  car  in  which  sat  one  woman 
ascending  into  the  sky,  and  then  he  knew  that  it 
was  as  the  old  men  had  told  him  and  that  a 


And    Other    Legends  47 

Daughter  of  the  Stars  might  never  live  upon  the 
earth.  In  vain  he  lifted  his  voice  in  entreaty  to 
her  to  return.  Higher  and  higher  arose  the  basket 
and  fainter  and  fainter  grew  the  music  which  fell 
from  it,  until  the  last  sounds  melted  away  into 
silence  and  the  receding  speck  disappeared  from 
the  sky. 

Then  Wau-pee  returned  to  his  lodge  lonely  and 
sorrowful  as  he  had  been  before  the  coming  of 
the  Star-Maiden.  He  went  out  no  more  to  fish 
and  hunt,  and  again  Ne-pah-win  departed  from 
his  wigwam. 

Very  happy  for  awhile  was  the  maiden  with  her 
sisters,  so  happy  that  there  came  no  thought  of 
Wau-pee  and  his  lodge  in  the  deep  forest.  In 
their  magic  car  they  journeyed  over  the  kingdom 
of  O-jis-hon-da,  and  all  the  plains  of  heaven  were 
illumined  in  honor  of  the  return  of  the  Daughter 
of  the  Stars,  so  that  the  people  on  the  earth  below 
marveled  at  the  wonderful  brilliance  of  the  eve 
ning  sky.  But  bye  and  bye  the  grieving  of  Wau- 
pee  reached  her  from  his  lonely  lodge  in  the 
forest,  and  she  knew  that  he  was  wasted  with 
famine  and  weak  with  fasting,  and  that  already 


48  The   White   Canoe 

Pau-guk,  the  Death  Phantom,  was  lurking  near 
him  in  the  shadows. 

Then  the  Star-Maiden  grew  lonely  and  sad, 
and  she  sang  no  more  with  her  sisters,  neither 
did  she  go  with  them  on  their  journeys  over  the 
plains  of  Starland.  Her  heart  was  with  her  hus 
band  on  the  earth,  and  she  longed  to  be  with  him 
and  to  comfort  him  in  his  loneliness. 

One  day  O-jis-hon-da  called  his  daughter  to 
him  and  said:  "I  have  beheld  your  sadness,  my 
daughter,  and  it  is  my  will  that  all  about  me 
should  be  happy.  It  is  not  permitted  that  a  Daugh 
ter  of  the  Stars  should  live  upon  the  earth,  neither 
may  you  now  be  satisfied  in  Starland  without 
your  lover.  Take  the  basket  and  silver  balls  and 
go  back  to  earth  and  bring  the  White  Hawk  to 
live  with  us  in  the  Land  of  the  Stars.  But  tell 
him  that  as  an  offering  for  his  bride  he  must  bring 
to  us,  not  blankets,  and  skins,  and  wampum,  but 
he  must  bring  to  us  one  of  every  creature  that 
walks  or  flies  or  crawls  upon  the  earth.  The 
basket  is  small  and  they  are  many,  but  if  the 
White  Hawk  is  wise  enough  to  become  the  son 
of  O-jis-hon-da  he  will  find  a  way." 


And    Other    Legends  49 

Then  the  Daughter  of  the  Stars  took  the  basket 
and  did  as  she  was  commanded,  but  her  heart  was 
very  heavy,  for  she  knew  not  how  Wau-pee  could 
bring  the  offering  which  her  father  required. 

She  found  him  sitting  in  his  lodge  weak  and 
faint  from  fasting,  but  when  she  looked  into  his 
eyes,  her  own  wet  and  gleaming,  and  gave  to  him 
the  message  of  O-jis-hon-da,  his  gaunt  form 
straightened  and  he  said:  "Fear  not,  Ne-ne- 
moo-sha,  it  shall  be  as  he  wills.  I  go  to  fulfill  his 
commands,  and  we  shall  be  separated  no  more. 
Wait  for  me  with  patience,  and  before  another 
moon  shall  wane  I  will  carry  to  your  father  one 
of  every  creature  that  walks,  or  flies,  or  crawls 
below  the  stars." 

Then  Wau-pee  arose  and  ate  the  food  which 
the  Star-Maiden  set  before  him,  and  prepared  for 
the  work  that  was  assigned  him.  New  arrows  he 
made  for  his  quiver,  keen  and  strong  and  winged 
with  feathers;  traps  and  snares  .he  made,  and 
long  lines  of  twisted  cedar.  Along  the  streams 
and  lakes  he  hid  the  snares  and  laid  the  lines,  and 
swift  on  the  trail  of  the  animals  in  the  forest  he 
sped  with  his  bow  and  arrows. 


5o  The    White   Canoe 

Well  did  Wau-pee,  the  White  Hawk,  work,  and 
well  did  he  use  all  his  skill  and  cunning,  and  every 
night  when  he  came  home  to  his  lodge  he  brought 
beaks,  and  wings,  and  skins,  and  claws  of  the  crea 
tures  that  he  had  taken.  When  the  Star-Maiden 
beheld  what  he  was  doing  she  knew  that  it  was 
true,  as  she  had  told  her  father,  and  that  WTau- 
pee  was  wise  and  great  enough  to  become  the  son 
of  the  Chief  of  the  Stars. 

At  last  the  work  was  finished  and  Wau-pee  and 
the  Star-Maiden  were  taken  up  into  the  skies 
with  the  trophies  which  he  had  gathered,  and 
when  O-jis-hon-da  saw  how  cunningly  had  been 
fulfilled  his  commands,  he  said :  "Welcome  to  the 
Land  of  the  Stars,  my  son,  to  a  place  among  my 
people  and  to  rule  over  them  in  my  stead.  The 
great  Master  of  Life  did  not  bless  me  with  a  son 
and  to  the  husband  of  my  youngest  and  best  loved 
daughter  it  is  given  to  become  the  ruler  of  the 
Land  of  the  Stars." 

Then  O-jis-hon-da  made  a  great  feast  and 
called  his  people  together  that  they  might  cele 
brate  the  marriage  of  his  daughter  and  behold  the 
strange  things  which  her  husband  had  brought 


And    Other    Legends  51 

from  the  country  below  the  stars.  Forth  through 
all  his  dominions  went  messengers  bearing  wands 
of  willow,  and  in  great  companies  they  came  to 
the  feast,  gorgeous  in  feathers  and  paint  and  belts 
of  wampum,  to  do  honor  to  O-jis-hon-da,  and  to 
celebrate  the  marriage  of  his  daughter. 

When  they  had  eaten  of  the  food  that  O-jis- 
hon-da  had  prepared  for  them,  the  twelve 
Daughters  of  the  Stars  took  up  their  silver  wands, 
and  striking  the  balls  together  all  the  people 
danced  and  whirled  about  the  plains  of  heaven 
until  those  on  the  earth  looked  up  and  said,  "Be 
hold,  the  stars  are  falling!"  and  where  the  flowing 
locks  and  floating  garments  of  O-jis-hon-da  left  a 
shining  trail  of  light  behind  him,  they  said,  "It 
is  Ish-koo-dah,  the  comet." 

Wearied  of  the  dance,  they  sat  down  upon  the 
ground  to  rest,  and  the  daughters  of  O-jis-hon-da 
brought  bark  of  willow  and  tobacco  and  filled 
their  pipes  for  smoking.  Then  Wau-pee  brought 
into  their  midst  the  basket  filled  with  the  trophies 
he  had  gathered,  and  at  the  command  of  O-jis- 
hon-da,  distributed  them  to  the  people.  To  one 
he  gave  a  claw,  to  another  a  beak,  to  another  a 


52  The    White   Canoe 

wing;  as  his  hand  found  them  in  the  basket,  the 
White  Hawk  distributed  them  among  the  people. 

Then  a  strange  and  confusing  thing  happened. 
As  the  guests  received  their  tokens  from  the  hand 
of  Wau-pee,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  they  were 
changed  to  birds  and  beasts  and  creeping  things 
and  fled  away  from  the  feast  of  O-jis-hon-da, 
away  even  from  the  Land  of  the  Stars  back  to  the 
earth  whence  the  trophies  were  taken. 

When  Wau-pee  saw  what  had  happened  and 
knew  that  he  was  alone  with  his  bride  in  the  Land 
of  the  Stars,  he  said :  "Behold,  my  beloved,  we 
will  not  follow  them  back  to  earth,  where  there 
is  cold  and  darkness,  and  famine  and  pestilence, 
and  where  death  at  last  will  divide  us.  I  have 
won  you  according  to  the  will  of  O-jis-hon-da  to 
be  my  wife  and  to  live  with  me  forever.  This  is 
a  sign,  my  beloved,"  and  he  caught  in  his  palm 
two  tears  that  dropped  from  her  eyes.  "Behold 
one  is  for  me  and  one  for  thee.  We  go  not  back 
to  earth,  but  forever  remain  in  the  heavens  side 
by  side." 

And  to  this  day  there  is  seen  among  the  serene 
and  shining  lights  of  heaven  two  stars  set  side  by 


And   Other    Legends  53 

side,  that  those  of  earth  who  look  upon  them 
may  learn  from  the  story  of  Wau-pee  and  his 
bride,  that  not  Here  nor  Hereafter,  may  the  souls 
of  those  who  love  truly  be  divided. 


54  The    White   Canoe 


THE  ORIGIN  OF  THE  ROBIN. 

NCE  upon  a  time  there  lived  in  the  coun 
try  of  the  Ojibways,  an  old  man  who  had 
one  son.  Now  he  had  been  a  great  warrior 
in  the  days  when  he  led  his  people  in  battle,  and 
many  of  the  enemies'  strong  men  had  he  slain. 
Fleet  of  foot  was  he  also,  so  that  only  the  deer 
of  the  forest  could  out-run  him ;  strong  of  arm 
was  he,  and  when  in  their  games  the  young  men 
wrestled  together  there  was  none  in  all  the  tribe 
able  to  stand  before  him. 

So  the  pride  of  the  old  man  was  very  great, 
and  when  at  last  age  came  upon  him  and  dimmed 
his  eye,  and  withered  his  arm,  and  made  his  feet 
to  halt  where  once  they  had  gone  so  swiftly,  he 
sat  alone  and  sad  in  his  lodge,  and  thought  of  the 
triumphs  of  his  youth.  Then  his  eyes  turned 
toward  the  son  of  his  old  age,  and  his  heart 
yearned  that  in  him  might  be  restored  the  glories 


And    Other    Legends  55 

of  the  years  that  had  departed.  And  as  the  youth 
grew  the  father's  ambition  grew  with  him,  until 
naught  was  left  in  the  old  man's  heart  save  a  fierce 
and  impatient  longing  to  see  this  his  son  fulfill  all 
his  desires  and  become  a  mighty  man  among  his 
people. 

Now,  a  kind  and  gentle  lad  was  the  son  of  the 
old  warrior,  who  well  deserved  his  father's  love ; 
but  not  in  battle  would  he  lead  his  people,  and  not 
in  the  sports  of  the  young  men  would  he  excel, 
for  the  strength  of  the  father's  arm,  the  swiftness 
of  the  father's  foot,  and  the  courage  of  the  fa 
ther's  heart,  had  not  descended  to  this  his  son. 
Mild  and  gentle  as  a  woman  was  he,  with  eyes 
like  a  fawn's  and  a  countenance  beautiful  to  look 
on,  but  only  when  driven  by  the  father's  upbraid- 
ings  could  he  be  induced  to  join  the  young  men 
of  the  village  in  their  ball  play  and  wrestling, 
or  follow  them  in  the  hunt. 

But  still  the  old  warrior  nursed  his  ambition 
over  the  lodge-fire  and  looked  forward  to  the 
time  when  his  son  would  make  his  first  fast,  for 
even  though  he  lacked  swiftness,  and  strength, 
and  courage,  if  so  be  he  possessed  endurance,  he 


56  The    White  Canoe 

might  fast  longer  than  any  other  lad  of  the  tribe, 
and  so  win  the  favor  of  the  great  Master  of  Life, 
who  would  make  him  a  leader  among  his  people. 

At  last  the  long  looked  for  time  arrived,  and 
the  father's  heart  grew  hot  with  anxiety  that  his 
son,  who  had  so  sorely  disappointed  his  hopes, 
might  have  strength  and  endurance  for  the  ordeal 
before  him.  So  he  built  him  a  fasting-lodge  apart 
from  the  village  on  the  bank  of  a  small  stream, 
and  spreading  a  mat  upon  the  floor,  he  left  him 
with  many  exhortations  to  courage  and  endur 
ance. 

Day  after  day,  and  night  after  night  the  lad 
lay  on  the  mat  with  his  face  covered,  and  every 
day  the  father  came  to  encourage  him,  and  tell 
of  the  honor  and  renown  that  would  be  his  if  he 
was  strong  and  kept  his  fast  for  twelve  days. 
At  night  the  youth's  dreams  were  strange  and 
fitful,  but  nothing  foretold  the  greatness  which 
his  father  coveted.  Weak,  and  faint,  and  hag 
gard  he  grew  with  the  long  fast,  and  when  his 
father  came  on  the  ninth  day  he  found  him  prone 
on  the  mat  and  half-dead  with  hunger.  Feebly 
he  plead  with  his  father  that  he  might  be  allowed 


And    Other    Legends  57 

to  break  his  fast,  for  that  night  in  his  dreams 
the  Spirits  had  foretold  of  disaster  if  he  per 
sisted  in  the  ambitious  undertaking. 

But  the  father  hardened  his  heart  to  the  lad's 
pleading  and  to  the  warning  of  the  Spirits,  while 
he  bade  him  keep  his  fast  but  one  day  longer. 
Every  lad  in  the  village  had  fasted  nine  days,  and 
what  availed  it  for  a  weakling  like  himself  to  do 
no  better?  He  craved  great  gifts  from  the  Master 
of  Life,  and  if  he  would  have  them,  he  must  make 
a  great  sacrifice.     It  was  only  because  he  was 
weak  and  cowardly  that  he  begged  for  food.    Only 
one  day  more  and  perhaps  the  Great  Spirit  would 
give  him  strength  for  another  and  still  another, 
then  he  would  go  back  to  the  village  honored 
above  all  his  companions  and  respected  by  the 
old  men.    Only  one  day  more !   and  the  old  man 
turned  away,  leaving  the  lad  lying  on  his  mat  in 
the  fasting-lodge. 

Then  the  father  determined  that  not  because  of 
his  yielding  should  the  youth  fail  in  his  endeavor, 
so  not  the  next  day  nor  the  next  did  he  go  to  the 
fasting-lodge  without  the  village,  but  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  twelfth  day  he  awoke  with  a  strange 


58  The   White  Canoe 

foreboding  in  his  heart  for  the  lad  whom  he  had 
left  alone  so  long  in  his  weakness  and  hunger, 
and,  taking  food,  he  hurried  away  to  the  lodge  on 
the  bank  of  the  stream. 

As  the  old  man  approached  he  heard  voices 
within,  and,  drawing  nearer,  he  recognized  the 
voice  of  his  son  speaking  to  himself.  Cautiously 
he  approached,  and  lifting  the  curtain  before  the 
door,  he  saw  the  lad  standing  in  the  center  of  the 
lodge  painting  his  body  with  red  paint  and  speak 
ing  as  if  to  an  invisible  listener  while  he  worked : 

"The  ambition  of  my  father  has  driven  away 
the  Good  Spirits,"  the  lad  said,  "but  I  have 
obeyed,  and  the  Great  Master  of  Life  will  not  let 
me  suffer  longer.  He  has  called  me  to  another 
existence,  where  food  and  shelter  will  be  pro 
vided  for  me,  and  where  my  pathway  will  be  light 
as  air.  Not  in  leaping  and  running,  not  in  war 
and  bloodshed  could  I  win  honor  and  renown,  so 
he  has  given  wings  to  my  halting  feet,  and  or 
dered  my  life  in  ways  of  happiness  and  peace." 

"My  son,  my  son !  Comfort  of  my  old  age, 
leave  me  not !"  the  old  man  cried,  dropping  on  his 
knees  before  the  boy. 


And    Other    Legends  39 

For  a  moment  the  youth  looked  down  upon 
his  father  with  pity  in  his  eyes,  then  he  said : 

"Regret  me  not,  Kne-ha,  my  father ;  it  was  not 
given  me  to  be  a  great  hunter  and  warrior,  and 
for  you  there  remained  disappointment  and  bit 
terness.  The  Great  Spirit  creates  us  as  he  thinks 
best,  and  not  by  long  fasting  and  prayer  may  we 
change  our  condition  in  life  and  turn  aside  his 
will  concerning  us.  Sorrow  not  for  me,  for  I  shall 
be  happy ;  neither  fear  my  anger,  for  in  token  of 
my  good  will  you  will  always  find  me  near  the 
dwellings  of  men.  I  shall  be  their  friend  and  shall 
become  to  them  a  harbinger  of  joy  and  peace." 

As  he  spoke,  he  spread  the  bright  vermillion 
dyes  over  his  breast  and  shoulders  as  far  as  he 
could  reach,  then,  lifting  his  arms  above  his  head, 
he  disappeared  through  the  smoke-flue  to  be  seen 
no  more;  but  outside  on  the  tallest  lodge  pole 
perched  a  robin  red-breast  caroling  a  new  song 
among  the  melodies  of  the  birds.  And  from  that 
day  to  this,  the  O-pe-chee,  the  robin,  has  been 
the  friend  of  mankind,  making  his  home  near 
their  dwellings  and  receiving  his  food  at  their 
hands,  and  none  is  found  cruel  enough  to  turn  an 
arrow  against  him. 


60  The    White  Canoe 


THE  ENCHANTED  MOCCASINS. 

IT  was  many  years  before  Me-sha-way,  the 
Little  Elk,  knew  that  there  were  any  other 
people  in  the  world  beside  himself  and  his 
sister,  Yo-yo-hon-to.  It  mattered  very  little  to 
Me-sha-way,  for  he  was  never  lonely :  the  birds 
in  the  trees  sang  to  him,  the  animals  in  the  forest 
played  with  him,  the  stars  in  the  sky  shone  on  him, 
and  all  the  broad  and  beautiful  earth  was  made 
for  Me-sha-way  and  his  sister,  Yo-yo-hon-to. 

Then  there  were  the  Spirits  of  the  Air  that 
spoke  to  him  when  he  was  alone  in  the  forest. 
Out  of  the  wandering  breezes  that  stirred  the  pine 
trees,  out  of  the  vast  silence  around  him,  the 
Spirits  of  the  Air  whispered  strange  things  to  the 
soul  of  the  Little  Elk,  things  that  moved,  and 
calmed,  and  thrilled  him,  but  things  for  which 
the  tongue  of  Me-sha-way  knew  no  speech  nor 
language. 


ii 


: 


w 


El.  II 


I. 


And    Other    Legends  61 

Also,  there  were  the  Ne-ba-naw-baigs,  the 
Spirits  of  the  Water,  and  sometimes  the  eyes  of 
Me-sha-way  had  almost  seen  them  when  he 
looked  long  into  the  shadowy  depths  of  the  placid 
lakes.  .  Sometimes  he  had  caught  the  glitter  of  the 
wampum  on  their  garments  as  they  danced  and 
sported  in  the  rapids,  sometimes  he  had  heard 
their  voices  in  the  roar  of  the  cataract  and  the 
surging  of  the  torrents,  and  always  as  he  sat  be 
side  the  falls  in  the  river  and  looked  into  the 
swirling  mists  that  arose  from  them,  he  could 
see  tresses  of  their  floating  hair  and  tints  of  their 
rainbow  colored  garments. 

Then  there  was  the  sandy  beach  where  the 
Puk-wud-jies  danced.  True,  Me-sha-way  had 
never  seen  them,  but  sometimes  when  he  sat  long 
on  moonlight  nights,  awaiting  their  coming,  he 
had  heard  faint  sounds  of  distant  music  in  the  air 
around  and  above  him,  and  he  knew  they  were 
not  far  away,  and  when  he  returned  to  the  sand 
beach  in  the  morning,  he  found  the  prints  of  many 
tiny  feet  showing  where  they  had  held  their 
revels  after  he  grew  weary  and  fell  asleep. 

When  Winter  came  upon  the  land  and  drove  the 


62  The   White   Canoe 

birds  of  the  forest  and  the  marshes  away  to  the 
Southland,  the  Puk-wud-jies  danced  no  more  on 
the  sandy  beach,  and  the  rivers  and  lakes  were 
roofed  with  ice,  so  that  Me-sha-way  saw  no  signs 
of  the  rainbow  garments  of  the  Ne-ba-naw-baigs, 
for  they  had  gone  to  their  warm  safe  lodges  in  the 
Under- Water  World. 

Then  Yo-yo-hon-to  drew  the  curtain  of  skins 
close  over  the  lodge  door  to  shut  out  the  icy  blast, 
and  that  Me-sha-w7ay  might  not  grow  lonely,  she 
told  him  stories  while  she  taught  him  to  string 
his  bow  and  wing  his  arrows  that  he  might  go  out 
into  the  winter  forest  and  find  for  them  food. 

At  first  Yo-yo-hon-to's  stories  were  all  about 
the  birds  and  the  beasts,  the  wind  and  the  stars, 
the  Spirits  of  the  Air  and  Water,  and  all  the  mys 
terious  things  of  the  Here  and  the  Hereafter.  She 
showed  him  the  shining  pathway  across  the 
heavens  at  night  where  the  ghosts  of  the  departed 
pass  back  and  forth  from  earth  to  the  King 
dom  of  Ponemah.  She  told  him  of  the  rainbow 
on  the  clouds  by  day,  and  that  it  is- the  Hereafter 
of  the  flowers,  where  all  that  have  bloomed  on 
earth  are  taken  to  bloom  in  the  sky.  She  told 


And    Other    Legends  63 

him  of  the  War  of  the  Winds  and  the  Council  of 
the  Stars.  Many  stories  Yo-yo-hon-to  told  to  her 
brother,  the  Little  Elk,  so  that  he  did  not  miss  the 
birds  from  the  forest  nor  the  flowers  from  the 
meadows  and  forgot  that  the  days  were  cold  and 
dark. 

As  Me-sha-way  grew  from  childhood  into  man 
hood  there  was  a  change  in  the  stories  of  Yo-yo- 
hon-to.  Now  she  told  him  of  the  great  world 
which  lay  many  days'  journey  from  their  lodge, 
where  tribes  of  his  own  people  lived  together 
in  villages.  She  told  him  of  great  forests  and 
mighty  rivers,  of  broad  plains  and  green  meadows 
such  as  he  had  never  seen.  Strange  stories  she 
told  him  of  a  Great  Water  where  all  the  rivers 
and  all  the  streams  in  the  world  came  together, 
where  one  might  paddle  his  canoe  for  many  days 
without  coming  to  the  end  of  it,  and  where  he 
might  fish  for  many  moons  without  taking  all 
the  fish  that  were  in  it.  She  told  him  of  the  lodge 
of  the  Under- Water  Manitou  which  was  beneath 
the  Big-Sea-Water,  and  how  when  the  God  of 
Waters  was  angry,  all  the  waves  arose  in  fury 
before  the  breath  of  his  wrath,  so  that  everything 


64  The    White   Canoe 

upon  the  face  of  the  Great  Water  was  destroyed. 
But  most  of  all  she  told  him  of  life  in  the  vil 
lages,  how  they  built  their  lodges,  how  they  made 
and  decked  their  garments,  of  their  wars  and  their 
hunting,  of  their  feasts  and  their  councils. 

Very  wonderful  were  the  stories  of  Yo-yo- 
hon-to,  and  to  encourage  her  in  talking,  Me-sha- 
way  heaped  the  pine  cones  on  the  lodge-fire  and 
turned  the  logs,  sending  the  sparks  in  showers  up 
the  smoke-flue,  until  at  last  Yo-yo-hon-to  grew 
weary,  and  wrapping  herself  in  her  blanket,  lay 
down  to  sleep. 

Then  Me-sha-way  sat  alone  in  the  lodge,  but 
he  forgot  to  keep  the  fire  burning,  and  while  he 
mused  it  sputtered  and  died  into  ashes.  Then 
Ne-pah-win  stole  into  the  lodge  and  touched  his 
eyelids,  and  he,  too,  lay  down  on  his  bed  of  skins 
to  sleep.  As  he  slept  he  dreamed  strange  dreams 
of  the  people  he  had  never  seen,  and  of  life  in  the 
far-off  villages.  He  dreamed  of  the  wars  and  the 
hunting,  of  the  feasts  and  the  dancing,  and  some 
times  there  came  visions  of  maidens  like  Yo-yo- 
hon-to,  only  younger  and  fairer  than  she,  and 
their  hair  was  as  the  floating  tresses  of  the  Ne-ba,-' 


And    Other    Legends  65 

naw-baigs,  and  their  eyes  bright  and  tender  like 
the  stars  of  evening. 

As  the  days  went  by  Yo-yo-hon-to  saw  that  Me- 
sha-way  was  growing  moody  and  unhappy.  He 
went  no  more  to  hunt  and  fish,  but  walked  many 
miles  through  the  forest,  and  rowed  many  days  on 
the  lake  without  taking  fish  or  game.  At  night  he 
asked  no  more  for  stories,  but  sat  gazing  silently 
into  the  fire  until  Yo-yo-hon-to  laid  down  on  her 
bed  and  slept,  and  sometimes  when  she  awoke  in 
the  grey  light  of  the  morning,  she  saw  him  still 
sitting  over  the  dead  lodge-fire. 

Then  Yo-yo-hon-to  knew  that  the  time  was  near 
at  hand  of  which  the  Shau-go-da-ya,  the  Old 
Woman,  had  told  her  when  she  sent  them  away  to 
live  alone  in  the  Northland,  the  time  when  Me- 
sha-way  must  return  to  their  people,  and  when 
many  strange  things  should  befall  him.  But  Yo- 
yo-hon-to  thought  on  it  in  her  heart  and  kept 
still,  for  it  was  forbidden  her  to  speak  to  Me-sha- 
way,  and  only  the  Shau-go-da-ya  could  tell  him 
when  the  time  was  fully  come. 

At  last  Me-sha-way  said  to  his  sister,  "I  arn 
lonely,  Yo-yo-hon-to,  and  I  am  going  to  find  the 


66  The   White  Canoe 

villages  of  my  people.  I  am  going  to  see  the 
feasts  and  the  dancing;  I  am  going  to  meet  the 
warriors  and  the  women,  and  if  the  Great  Spirit 
so  wills  it,  I  shall  bring  back  one  to  live  with  us 
in  the  wigwam  and  to  be  my  wife." 

Yo-yo-hon-to  said  no  word,  but  she  put  on  her 
brother  his  best  garments,  she  bound  the  eagle 
feathers  about  his  brow,  and,  turning  his  face  to 
the  Southward,  she  bade  him  travel  in  that  direc 
tion  until  he  came  to  the  lodge  of  the  Shau-go- 
da-ya,  who  would  direct  him  on  the  rest  of  his 
journey.  Thus  Me-sha-way  left  his  sister  and 
went  to  seek  the  villages  of  his  people,  went  to  see 
the  feasts  and  councils,  to  meet  the  warriors  and 
the  women,  and  to  find  a  wife  to  live  with  him  in 
his  wigwam. 

Three  days  he  traveled  to  the  Southward,  as 
Yo-yo-hon-to  had  commanded.  There  were  ani 
mals  in  the  forest  and  on  the  prairies,  and  when 
he  was  hungry  he  killed  and  ate;  when  he  was 
weary  he  lay  down  on  a  bed  of  leaves  and  slept, 
and  so  he  continued  on  his  journey. 

On  the  evening  of  the  third  day  he  saw  before 
him  in  the  forest  a  wigwam  made  of  bark,  and 


And    Other    Legends  67 

when  he  came  near,  he  found  the  Shau-go-da-ya 
sitting  within.  She  was  old  and  bent,  and  grey 
locks  fell  about  her  brown  and  wrinkled  face. 
Around  her  shoulders  was  a  mantle  of  scalps,  and 
her  withered  and  trembling  hands  rested  upon  a 
staff  to  which  hung  fringes  made  from  the  beaks 
and  claws  of  birds. 

A  strange  and  terrible  creature  was  the  Shau- 
go-da-ya  as  she  crouched  in  the  shadow  of  the 
wigwam.  As  the  form  of  Me-sha-way  darkened 
the  lodge  door,  she  looked  up -at  him  with  eyes 
that  glowed  like  live  coals,  and  resting  her  hands 
upon  the  staff,  she  arose  to  her  feet.  Then  Me- 
sha-way  started  back  in  alarm,  for,  as  she  lifted 
the  staff  the  beaks  and  claws  screamed  and  called 
and  sang  together,  every  bird  of  the  forest  in  its 
own  language,  and  as  she  walked  the  fringes 
of  scalps  swayed  and  trembled,  and  laughed  and 
shouted  with  horrid  laughter. 

"Fear  not,  No-sis,  my  grandson/'  the  Old 
Woman  said,  "I  shall  not  harm  you.  I  only  have 
these  to  keep  me  company  when  I  am  alone,  but 
now  I  have  no  need  of  them,"  and  she  set  aside 
the  staff  and  dropped  the  mantle  of  scalps  to  the 


68  The   White   Canoe 

floor  of  the  wigwam.  "I  have  been  waiting  for 
you  for  many  days.  See,  I  have  kept  the  fire 
burning  and  the  kettle  boiling.  There  is  fat  in  it 
for  you  to  eat  and  a  bed  where  you  may  sleep. 
Come  in,  my  grandson ;  eat  and  rest,  for  there  is 
a  long  and  wearying  journey  before  you,  and 
many  dangers  to  encounter." 

So  the  Shau-go-da-ya  gave  Me-sha-way  fat 
from  the  kettle  to  eat,  and  pointed  to  a  bed  of 
skins  where  he  lay  down  and  slept.  When  he 
arose  in  the  morning  rested  and  refreshed,  she 
again  gave  him  food,  and  when  he  had  eaten,  she 
said: 

"There  is  nothing  you  would  tell  me,  my  grand 
son,  that  is  not  already  known  to  me.  I  know 
of  the  journey  on  which  you  are  going,  and  it  is 
permitted  me  to  give  you  aid,  but  on  your  own 
wisdom  and  courage  will  depend  your  success. 
Many  dangers  await  you,  but  to  reward  you  for 
them  all  the  Great  Spirit  has  selected  a  beautiful 
maiden  to  be  your  wife.  But  be  not  over  confi 
dent.  Many  have  seen  her  to  desire  her,  and  the 
bravest  of  the  tribes  have  sought  in  vain  to  win 
her. 


And    Other    Legends  69 

"Three  days'  journey  to  the  eastward  you 
will  find  the  village  where  she  lives  with  her 
father,  the  chief  of  the  tribe.  Very  carefully 
he  guards  his  beautiful  daughter,  and  vows  that 
none  save  the  man  of  his  own  choosing  shall 
marry  her,  and  that  he  shall  win  her  by  such  feats 
of  skill  and  endurance  as  never  man  endured  be 
fore.  That  he  may  keep  her  more  securely  he 
has  built  a  lodge  for  her  in  the  top  of  the  tallest 
tree  in  the  village,  and  not  one  of  her  loves  has  yet 
been  able  to  approach  near  enough  to  gain  speech 
with  the  maiden. 

"This  is  the  woman  whom  the  Great  Spirit 
has  selected  to  be  your  wife;  but  if  you  secure 
her  you  must  be  wise,  and  strong,  and  very  cun 
ning.  To  aid  you  in  your  undertaking,  I  give 
you  these  magic  bones  from  the  medicine  dance 
which  will  enable  you  to  change  your  form  at 
will,  and  a  pair  of  enchanted  moccasins  made 
from  the  skin  of  a  deer  slain  by  Na-na-bo-zho. 
They  will  be  of  much  service  to  you  on  your 
journey,  for  the  feet  of  the  one  who  wears  them 
will  never  weary,  and  when  hard  pressed  by  the 
enemy,  he  has  but  to  step  out  of  the  moccasins 


70  The   White  Canoe 

and  they  will  go  forward  of  their  own  accord, 
and  lead  him  away  on  a  false  trail.  Take  them, 
my  grandson ;  remember  all  I  have  told  you,  and 
may  the  Great  Spirit  give  you  success !" 

Me-sha-way  took  the  small  white  bones  and 
dropped  them  into  his  meda-bag.  He  stripped 
from  his  feet  the  worn  moccasins  which  Yo-yo- 
hon-to  had  made  for  him,  and  put  on  in  their 
place  the  enchanted  moccasins  of  the  Shau-go- 
da-ya.  Then,  eager  to  be  on  his  way,  he  thanked 
her  for  her  aid,  and,  with  feet  light  as  down,  re 
sumed  his  journey. 

Three  days  Me-sha-way  traveled  to  the  east 
ward  as  the  Shau-go-da-ya  had  bidden  him,  and 
on  the  fourth  he  came  in  sight  of  the  village  where 
lived  the  chief  of  the  tribe.  From  afar  he  could 
discern  the  tall  tree  with  the  lodge  in  its  topmost 
branches,  and  his  step  quickened,  and  his  pulse 
leaped  as  he  thought  on  the  beauty  of  the  maiden 
whom  none  had  been  brave  enough  to  win,  and  he 
determined  that  never  would  he  return  to  his 
wigwam  in  the  Northland  until  he  could  take 
her  for  his  bride. 

In  the  center  of  the  village  stood  the  lodge  of 


And   Other   Legends  71 

the  chief,  and,  as  Me-sha-way  approached,  he 
came  out  to  greet  him. 

"Welcome,  my  son,"  said  the  chief.  "It  is 
many  days  since  a  stranger  has  been  in  the  vil 
lage  to  seek  my  daughter  in  marriage.  The  peo 
ple  are  growing  weary  of  feasts  and  dancing,  and 
long  for  something  to  make  the  time  pass  more 
quickly.  See,  her  lodge  is  there  in  the  tree-topt 
and  if  you  can  reach  it,  she  is  yours;  but,  be 
warned,  my  son,  others  have  been  before  you, 
and  if  you  fail,  your  scalp  also  shall  adorn  the 
mantle  of  the  Shau-go-da-ya." 

While  the  chief  spoke  the  people  of  the  village 
were  gathering  to  see  the  sport.  Me-sha-way 
wondered  how  so  many  had  failed  in  the  ac 
complishment  of  a  task  which  seemed  so  easy, 
but  he  made  no  boast  as  he  replied  to  the  chal 
lenge  of  the  chief. 

"It  shall  be  as  you  have  said,  Great  Chief.  I 
have  heard  of  the  beauty  of  the  maiden,  and  my 
heart  desires  her.  It  is  the  will  of  the  Great 
Spirit  that  I  shall  have  her  for  my  bride ;  but  if 
I  am  weak  and  faint-hearted  I  am  not  worthy, 


72  The    White   Canoe 

and  my  scalp  shall  hang  not  at  the  belt  of  a  war 
rior,  but  on  the  mantle  of  the  Old  Woman." 

When  he  had  ceased  speaking  Me-sha-way 
began  at  once  to  climb  the  smooth  trunk  of  the 
tree.  Slowly  he  made  his  way  until  he  reached 
the  lowest  branches,  then  he  ascended  rapidly; 
higher  and  higher  until  it  seemed  that  he  must  be 
very  near  the  lodge,  but  when  he  paused  and 
looked  he  found  that  it  was  as  far  above  him 
as  at  the  beginning. 

Then  a  great  shout  of  laughter  went  up  from 
the  people  below.  "Faster!  Faster!"  they  cried 
between  their  shouts  and  their  laughing.  "Faster  I 
or  the  lodge  will  soon  reach  to  the  land  of  the 
stars!  See  how  he  stops  to  rest  and  pants  like 
a  deer  weary  with  running !  Come  back,  M e-sha- 
way,  you  climb  up  like  a  snail !  Only  the  Adji- 
dau-mo  has  ever  been  to  the  lodge  of  the  chief's 
daughter,  and  the  Shau-go-da-ya  cries  for  a  new 
scalp  for  her  mantle." 

Then  Me-sha-way  saw  that  faster  than  he  could 
climb  the  tree  was  growing  toward  the  stars,  but 
at  the  taunting  words  of  the  people  he  remem 
bered  the  magic  bones  in  his  meda-bag,  and  quick 


And    Other    Legends  73 

as  a  thought  Me-sha-way  disappeared,  and  in  his 
stead  was  a  squirrel  scampering  up  the  bark  of  the 
tree. 

Now  he  felt  himself  gaining  and  the  shouts 
and  laughter  below  ceased,  or  else  the  tree  had 
grown  so  tall  that  their  voices  no  longer  reached 
him.  Nearer  and  nearer  he  approached  the  lodge, 
when  suddenly  he  felt  the  tree  shaken  by  a  mighty 
wind  and  he  knew  that  Mud-je-ke-wis,  the  Ruler 
of  the  Winds,  was  fighting  with  the  chief,  and  he 
was  indeed  great  and  strong  who  would  be  able 
to  withstand  him. 

Wilder  and  wilder  grew  the  tempest  and  the 
branches  swayed  and  lashed,  and  beat  each  other, 
while  all  the  forest  around  the  village  bowed  and 
bent  before  the  anger  of  the  Mud-je-ke-wis.  Still 
the  squirrel  clung  close  to  the  writhing  tree  until 
a  mighty  gust  from  the  nostrils  of  the  angry 
Wind  God  tore  him  from  the  shelter  and  dashed 
him  to  the  ground. 

"Now  I  have  you !"  cried  the  chief,  as  he  drew 
his  bow  and  rushed  upon  the  fallen  Adji-dau-mo, 
but  before  he  could  loose  the  arrow  from  the  bow 
string,  a  tall  young  Indian  sprang  up  from  the 


74  The    White  Canoe 

ground  and  with  one  leap  in  his  enchanted  moc 
casins  was  out  of  sight. 

Then  began  the  race  between  the  chief  and 
Me-sha-way.  Easily  might  the  Little  Elk  outrun 
him,  but  he  was  a  great  and  powerful  enemy 
for  whom  the  winds  of  heaven  made  warfare, 
and  Me-sha-way  knew  that  he  must  be  wise  and 
very  cunning  if  he  would  save  his  scalp  from  the 
mantle  of  the  Shau-go-da-ya. 

All  day  Me-sha-way  sped  on  through  the  forest, 
but  while  the  enchanted  moccasins  could  keep 
weariness  from  the  feet,  they  were  powerless  to 
stay  the  pangs  of  hunger,  and  at  last  Me-sha-way 
knew  that  he  must  stop  and  take  food  before  he 
could  proceed  farther  on  the  journey.  As  if  in 
answer  to  his  desire  he  saw  a  moose  a  short  dis 
tance  before  him  among  the  trees,  and  drawing 
his  bow  he  sent  an  arrow  to  its  heart.  Gathering 
leaves  and  twigs  he  kindled  a  fire,  and  soon  a 
savory  bit  of  fat  was  roasting  before  the  coals. 

After  Me-sha-way  had  finished  his  meal  of 
moose  fat  he  felt  his  eyes  growing  heavy  for 
sleep,  and  remembering  the  power  of  the  en 
chanted  moccasins  to  go  forward  of  their  own 


And   Other    Legends  75 

accord  he  drew  them  from  his  feet  and  bade 
them  go  into  the  forest,  while  he  concealed  him 
self  behind  a  fallen  log  and  fell  asleep. 

Bye  and  bye  the  chief  came  upon  the  smoulder 
ing  camp-fire  and  the  carcass  of  the  moose  close 
by.  He  knew  that  his  enemy  had  stopped  here  to 
rest  and  refresh  himself,  but  seeing  the  fresh  moc 
casin  tracks  leading  away  from  it,  he  followed 
them  into  the  forest. 

The  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  when  Me- 
sha-way  awoke  next  morning  to  find  himself 
weary  and  sore  from  his  long  journey.  Then  he 
remembered  with  dismay  that  he  had  sent  his 
enchanted  moccasins  to  decoy  the  chief  from  his 
trail  and  now  he  must  proceed  without  them. 
Lifting  himself  from  his  bed  of  leaves  behind  the 
fallen  log,  Me-sha-way  glanced  about  him  when 
suddenly  his  eyes  lighted  on  the  moccasins  stand 
ing  side  by  side  before  the  camp-fire,  and  at  the 
same  moment  the  chief  came  to  a  place  where  the 
tracks  ceased,  leaving  him  bewildered  in  the  midst 
of  a  strange  forest. 

Hastily  Me-sha-way  made  a  meal  from  the 
meat  of  the  moose  which  he  had  killed  the  night 


76  The   White  Canoe 

before,  and  thrusting  his  feet  into  the  moccasins 
he  started  toward  the  village;  for  Me-sha-way 
had  seen  a  dark  and  beautiful  face  looking  down 
on  him  from  the  lodge  in  the  tree-top.  The  eyes 
were  deep  and  shining  like  still  pools  under  the 
moonlight,  and  they  drew  Me-sha-way 's  heart 
from  his  bosom,  so  that  he  vowed  again  and  again 
that  he  would  never  return  to  the  Northland  with 
out  the  maiden  for  his  bride. 

With  the  help  of  the  enchanted  moccasins  he 
soon  reached  the  village  and  found  himself  stand 
ing  under  the  tall  tree  looking  up  at  the  lodge  in 
its  branches.  There  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  for  the 
chief  might  return  at  any  moment,  so  Me-sha- 
way  again  adjured  the  magic  power  of  the  medi 
cine  bones,  and  turning  himself  into  a  squirrel, 
he  ran  swiftly  up  the  tree  trunk. 

"It  is  you,  Ne-ne-moo-sha/'  said  the  maiden. 
"I  have  seen  you  in  my  dreams  and  have  waited 
long  for  you  to  come  and  carry  me  away  from  this 
hateful  place.  Many  times  I  have  feared  when 
others  came  that  they  might  reach  the  lodge  be 
fore  the  Great  Spirit  sent  you,  but  always  it  was 


And    Other    Legends  77 

but  a  scalp  for  the  Shau-go-da-ya,  and  the  face 
in  my  dreams  remained." 

Safely  Me-sha-way  bore  the  daughter  of  the 
chief  to  the  ground  and  hand  in  hand  they  turned 
away  from  the  village  and  entered  the  forest. 
But  now  a  new  difficulty  confronted  them,  for  the 
maiden,  unaccustomed  to  much  travel,  soon  grew 
faint  and  weary,  and  for  two  days  they  journeyed 
slowly  to  the  westward,  sometimes  one  wearing 
the  enchanted  moccasins  and  sometimes  the  other. 
Also  they  knew,  that  the  chief  returning  to  the 
village,  and  finding  his  daughter  gone,  would  pur 
sue  them,  and  unless  they  were  able  to  go  more 
swiftly,  he  would  overtake  them  before  they ' 
reached  the  lodge  of  the  Shau-go-da-ya. 

"I  can  go  no  further,"  the  maiden  said,  at  last 
sinking  down  on  the  moss  at  his  feet.  "You  must 
take  the  enchanted  moccasins  and  Sc  e  yourself 
while  yet  there  is  time,  and  as  for  me,  I  shall  go 
back  to  my  lodge  in  the  tree-top  and  grow  to  be 
an  old  woman  dreaming  of  you." 

Even  while  the  maiden  spoke  and  while  Me- 
sha-way  listened  with  bowed  head  and  sinking 
heart,  a  Wau-bos  sprang  out  of  the  bushes  and 


78  The   White  Canoe 

cried :  "Fly  !  Fly  !  Me-sha-way,  for  your  enemy 
the  chief  is  following  close  upon  you.  Forget  not 
the  gifts  of  Shau-go-da-ya  and  tarry  not  against 
the  coming  of  your  enemy.  Remember  the  Spirits 
fight  only  with  the  brave,  but  the  faint-hearted 
must  perish." 

Again  Me-sha-way  took  courage  as  he  thought 
of  the  gift  of  the  Old  Woman,  and  clasping  the 
medicine  bones  in  his  hand  he  breathed  a  prayer 
to  the  Great  Spirit  for  succor ;  and  behold,  while 
the  wish  yet  lingered  in  his  heart,  the  maiden 
disappeared  and  a  beautiful  O-wa-issa  fluttered 
up  from  the  ground  and  perched  upon  the  branch 
of  a  tree.  Then  Me-sha-way  drew  the  enchanted 
moccasins  on  his  own  feet  and  swiftly  they  hur 
ried  forward  together,  the  tall  Indian  and  the 
blue  bird  flitting  beside  him. 

It  was  evening  when  they  came  in  sight  of  the 
lodge  of  the  Old  Woman,  where  Me-sha-way 
knew  they  would  find  food  and  shelter. 

"Come  in,  my  children,"  she  said,  as  they  stood 
together  before  the  door.  "Come  in  and  hide 
.yourselves,  for  the  chief  follows  close  upon  your 
trail." 


And    Other    Legends  79 

But  Me-sha-way  thrust  the  maiden  within 
and  stepping  out  of  his  enchanted  moccasins,  he 
bade  them  go  forward  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

Then  he  dropped  the  curtain  before  the  lodge 
door  and  the  chief  passed  on  following  the  tracks 
of  the  enchanted  moccasins,  never  pausing,  never 
straying,  crossing  mountains,  through  the  valleys, 
over  marsh  and  over  fenland,  straight  to  the  ends 
of  the  world,  to  the  Kingdom  of  Mud-je-ke-wis. 


8o  The   White  Canoe 


THE  JOURNEY  OF  O-ME-ME. 
CHAPTER  I. 

OOAN-GE-TA-HA  was  a  mighty  hunter. 
^  His  lodge  was  on  the  border  of  the  Ku- 
ha-go,  the  Great  Forest,  and  there  he  lived  with 
his  wife,  Yong-we,  and  their  two  children.  The 
eldest  of  these,  O-me-me,  was  a  little  girl  just  old 
enough  to  keep  the  wigwam  fire  burning  and  take 
care  of  her  brother  A-meek,  the  Little  Beaver. 

There  were  bear  and  moose  in  the  forest,  pike 
and  sturgeon  in  the  streams,  and  on  the  lakes  and 
marshlands  water-fowl  in  abundance.  Soan-ge- 
ta-ha  and  his  family  were  prosperous  and  happy. 
The  tribes  were  at  peace  and  there  was  plenty  in 
the  land. 

Soan-ge-ta-ha  wore  the  warmest,  brightest 
blankets  of  any  Ojibway  in  all  the  North  Coun 
try.  His  war-gearing  was  rich  with  wampum  and 
porcupine  quills,  and  the  garments  of  his  wife 


•a 


JOURNEY  OF  O-ME-ME 


And    Other    Legends  81 

and  children  were  of  softest,  whitest  moose  skin. 

Back  of  the  lodge  was  a  field  of  corn,  where, 
during  the  Summer,  the  glossy  blades  glistened 
in  the  sun,  and  where  swelling  ears  burst  the 
browning  husks  of  Autumn.  Along  the  streams 
grew  the  wild  rice,  and  many  baskets  Yong-wc 
braided  to  hold  the  stores  the  Autumn  harvest 
would  bring.  The  coming  Winter  found  them 
with  warm  furs  in  the  wigwam,  and  fish  and 
meat  in  store. 

The  bow  of  Soan-ge-ta-ha  was  made  of  ash- 
wood  and  strung  with  rawhide.  His  oaken  ar 
rows  were  tipped  with  jasper,  and  every  beast  of 
the  forest  had  heard  the  twang  of  his  bow-string 
and  felt  the  sting  of  his  arrows. 

"Soan-ge-ta-ha  comes !"  the  Wau-bos,  the  rab 
bit  cried,  as  she  fled  trembling  to  cover,  when  the 
mighty  hunter  went  forth  with  arrows  in  his 
quiver. 

"Soan-ge-ta-ha  comes !"  the  O-kwa-ho,  the 
wolf,  snarled  as  he  skulked  into  the  darkest  re 
cesses  of  the  forest.  The  Me-sha-way,  the  elk, 
crashed  panting  into  the  thicket,  and  taking  up 
the  cry  every  creature  of  the  forest  fled  before 


82  The   White   Canoe 

the  coming  of  Soan-ge-ta-ha,  the  Strong  Heart. 

"He  is  a  Wa-be-noe,  a  magician,"  they  said,  for 
flee  as  they  would  Soan-ge-ta-ha's  arrows  found 
them.  No  deer  so  swift  but  that  there  was  an 
arrow  in  his  quiver  swifter,  and  no  shadow  in  the 
forest  deep  enough  to  turn  aside  the  aim  which 
trained  across  Soan-ge-ta-ha's  bow-string. 

When  Seg-wun,  the  Spring,  came  back  to  the 
land  and  the  south  winds  blew  again  on  the 
beaver  meadows,  Soan-ge-ta-ha  went  no  more  to 
hunt.  The  days  grew  longer  and  the  sun  warmer 
until  the  wild  strawberries  began  to  ripen  under 
their  sheltering  leaves,  then  Soan-ge-ta-ha  put 
blankets  and  kettles  into  his  birch-bark  canoe, 
and  taking  his  wife  and  children  he  paddled  away 
to  the  southward  where  the  berries  grew  in  abun 
dance. 

In  a  sheltered  cove  on  the  shore  of  the  Gitchee- 
Gumee  they  made  their  camp  with  a  brake  of 
boughs  and  leaves  to  the  windward.  The  cradle 
of  the  Little  Beaver  was  swung  to  the  bough  of  a 
sheltering  fir  tree,  where  all  day  long,  as  the 
breezes  swept  through  the  forest,  they  swayed  the 
bough  and  rocked  the  cradle. 


And    Other    Legends  83 

Early  in  the  morning  Soan-ge-ta-ha  and  his 
wife  took  their  baskets  and  wandered  away  in 
search  of  berries,  leaving  the  Little  Beaver  to  the 
nursing  of  O-me-me  and  the  wind,  but  so  well 
did  O-ha  soothe  the  little  one  that  O-me-me's 
duties  were  light. 

The  little  girl  lay  on  the  soft  moss  under  the  fir 
trees  and  watched  the  sunshine  in  the  branches 
above  her,  and  the  birds  as  they  darted  on  swift 
wings  through  the  tangle  of  light  and  shade.  She 
was  not  lonely  as  she  lay  there  through  many 
sunny  hours,  for  she  knew  all  the  birds  in  the 
forest  by  name,  and  they  had  been  her  compan 
ions  since  she,  too,  swung  in  a  linden  cradle  and 
slept  to  the  lullaby  of  the  wind.  She  knew  their 
voices,  each  had  a  language  of  its  own,  and  when 
they  gathered  in  the  branches  overhead  and  chat 
tered,  and  chirped,  and  rustled  their  feathers,  and 
flirted  their  wings,  she  kept  very  still  and  smiled 
to  herself,  for  she  was  hearing  the  latest  sensation 
n  bird  land.  She  understood  all  their  plotting  and 
scheming,  the  insinuations  and  suspicions  in  the 
subdued  chirps  and  confidential  chatter.  But  she 
never  told  any  one.  O-me-me  was  far  too  wise 


84  The   White  Canoe 

for  that,  even  if  it  had  been  possible,  but  bird- 
language  is  peculiar  and  apart  to  itself  in  all  the 
realms  of  expression,  in  that  it  has  no  translation 
into  human  speech. 

So  the  birds  had  no  fear  of  O-me-me  as  they 
peered  down  through  the  branches  and  saw  her 
smiling  back  at  them  from  her  bed  of  moss. 
Sometimes  they  grew  very  saucy  and  teased  and 
taunted  O-me-me,  because  they  knew  how  much 
she  desired  to  talk  to  them  in  their  own  language 
and  could  not.  They  would  flutter  down  to  the 
very  lowest  boughs  above  her  head,  and  chirp  and 
screech,  and  chatter  and  call.  They  would  circle 
and  wheel  and  dip,  until  their  wings  fanned  the 
little  black  head  on  its  pillow  of  moss,  and  one 
day  a  very  saucy  robin  opened  his  beak  and  let 
fall  a  fat  worm  which  he  was  carrying  home  to 
his  family,  so  that  it  dropped  directly  on  the  tip 
of  O-me-me's  little  brown  nose.  This  was  too 
much  for  O-me-me,  so  she  sprang  up  and  seized 
her  father's  bow  which  she  well  knew  how  to 
wield,  and  all  her  feathered  tormentors  flew 
screeching  and  frightened  into  the  forest. 

Sometimes  when  O-me-me  grew  tired  of  the 


And    Other    Legends  85 

chatter  of  the  birds,  as  she  did  on  occasions,  for 
birds  are  very  like  people  after  all,  and  given  to 
talking  a  great  deal  without  saying  anything,  she 
wandered  off  to  the  shore,  and,  stretching  herself 
on  the  steep  bank,  looked  down  into  the  water. 

It  was  very  deep  and  still  here.  Farther  back 
around  the  bend,  it  was  shallow  and  calm,  a  little 
bay  cut  into  the  sheltering  hills,  and  there  the 
water-lilies  grew  rank  and  rich  among  their 
glossy  leaves.  They  were  very  pretty,  and  O-me- 
me  liked  to  look  at  them  for  awhile ;  but  they  did 
not  interest  her  long,  and  the  water  was  too  shal 
low  to  hold  much  underneath. 

So  O-me-me  seldom  lingered  by  the  Water-Lily 
Lake,  but  when  she  wanted  to  be  amused  she  went 
to  the  place  where  the  bank  dropped  off  sheer 
into  deep  water,  and  there  she  lay  for  hours  peer 
ing  down  into  its  brown-green  depths. 

At  first  there  was  only  water,  but  as  she  looked 
longer  she  could  see  tall,  floating  weeds  and 
grasses,  slender  sword-like  fronds  that  grew  out 
of  nothing  and  swayed  and  floated  in  the  current 
like  ferns  of  the  forest  swept  by  the  wind. 

The  longer  she  looked  the  farther  down  she 


86  The    White  Canoe 

could  see;  down,  down,  down,  a  misty,  mysteri 
ous  world  filled  with  floating  shadows,  trees  and 
flowers,  ferns  and  grasses  dimly  outlined  as 
through  smoke.  There  a  shaft  of  sunshine  struck 
through  the  overhanging  trees  and  where  it 
pierced  the  shadows  she  could  see  a  great  pike 
with  shining  scales  lying  among  the  ferns  and 
water  plants,  while  all  about  it  were  strange  form 
less  floating  creatures  belonging  to  the  Under- 
Water  World. 

O-me-me  knew  they  were  there  though  she  had 
never  been  able  to  see  them  clearly,  though  she 
lay  many  a  sunny  day  straining  her  eyes  into  the 
watery  depths.  She  knew  that  down — farther 
down  than  any  eyes  had  ever  penetrated — was  the 
lodge  of  Unk-te-ha,  the  great  Under- Water  Mani- 
tou,  of  which  the  White  Loon  was  door-keeper, 
and  where  none  but  the  Ne-ba-naw-baigs,  the 
Water  Spirits,  had  ever  gone. 

It  was  a  strange,  silent  world,  and  its  people 
were  not  like  the  birds  and  beasts  of  the  forest, 
for  since  Na-na-bo-zho  had  gone  away  to  the 
Land  of  Ponemah,  nobody  knew  their  language, 
and  no  word  ever  passed  between  those  on  earth 


And    Other    Legends  87 

and  the  creatures  of  this  mysterious  world  over 
which  their  canoes  floated. 

She  often  listened  to  the  strange,  wild  cry  of 
the  Loon  from  the  marshes  at  nightfall,  and  won 
dered  if  she  were  going  to  get  the  keys  of  the 
Under-World  Water  where  they  were  hidden 
among  the  rushes,  and  if  she  were  to  watch  her, 
might  she  sometime  learn  where  they  were  kept. 
Her  father  was  wise,  and  brave,  and  very  strong ; 
it  was  hard  for  O-me-me  to  believe  that  even  Na- 
na-bo-zho  could  have  been  stronger  or  wiser. 
Why  might  not  he  talk  to  the  Loon  and  learn' 
from  her  all  their  secrets  ? 

Bye  and  bye  she  would  be  older,  she  would 
build  her  a  lodge  and  fast  long  in  the  forest ;  she 
would  pray  to  the  Great  Master  of  Life  to  hear 
her,  and  then  she  would  ask,  not  for  so  much 
wampum,  not  for  a  husband  who  was  hand 
some  and  brave,  but  for  the  keys  to  the  Under- 
Water  World. 

One  warm,  lazy  day,  as  O-me-me  lay  on  the 
mossy  bank,  she  saw  a  serpent  draw  its  slow 
length  from  the  leaves  and  coil  on  a  flat  stone 
near  the  water's  edge.  O-me-me  shuddered  and 


88  The    White  Canoe 

crept  away,  for  she  knew  it  was  not  really  a  ser 
pent,  but  an  evil  spirit  in  the  serpent's  form,  and 
she  feared  that  its  eye  might  fall  upon  her  with 
its  wicked  spell. 

For  some  time  O-me-me  crouched  in  the 
shadows  under  the  fir  tree  and  watched  the  ser 
pent  basking  on  the  warm  stone.  What  did  it 
mean,  this  evil  omen  which  had  come  to  their 
peaceful  camp?  All  day  she  was  quiet  and  very 
thoughtful  while  she  pondered  with  fear  in  her 
heart. 

That  evening,  at  nightfall,  a  stranger  paddled 
into  Water-Lily  Lake.  Springing  ashore  he 
drew  his  canoe  up  on  the  bank  and  strode  into 
the  light  of  their  camp-fire.  For  a  moment  he 
stood  motionless,  the  firelight  playing  upon  his 
bare  breast  and  touching  his  keen  face.  O-me- 
me  gazed  at  him  in  wonder.  He  was  quite  dif 
ferent  from  any  one  she  had  ever  seen  before, 
not  in  the  least  like  her  father  or  the  other 
heavy-featured,  stolid  Ojibways  who  had  come 
sometimes  to  their  camp,  and  sometimes 
to  their  lodge  on  the  border  of  the  Great 
Forest.  As  he  moved  forward  into  the  light, 


And    Other    Legends  89 

she  noticed  that  his  fringed  buckskin  leggings 
were  striped  with  crimson,  and  the  meda-bag 
which  hung  from  his  belt,  was  richly  trimmed 
with  wampum  in  some  strange  device. 

Suddenly,  as  if  feeling  the  gaze  fixed  upon 
him,  the  stranger  turned  and  looked  at  O-me-me. 
There  was  something  in  the  movement  of  his  sin 
uous  body,  and  in  the  gleam  of  his  eye,  which 
recalled  the  serpent  on  the  stone,  and  O-me-me 
crept  away  to  her  bed  of  leaves  without  food 
rather  than  again  encounter  that  strange  gaze. 

Soan-ge-ta-ha  hung  another  fish  over  the  coals 
to  bake,  which  was  his  offering  of  hospitality 
to  the  guest,  and  Yong-we  spread  a  blanket  in 
a  sheltered  corner  of  the  camp  for  him  to  sleep. 
Next  morning  when  O-me-me  awoke  the  stran 
ger  was  gone,  and  her  father  stood  on  the  shore 
watching  a  tiny  speck  rising  and  falling  upon 
the  water. 

"Who  was  it?"  she  asked,  timidly  plucking  the 
fringe  of  his  sleeve. 

Soan-ge-ta-ha  answered  without  removing  his 
eyes  from  the  receding  speck  on  the  water : 
"It  is  Kwan-o-shais-tah,  the  Great  Serpent." 


90  The   White  Canoe 

When  her  father  had  gone  away  to  fish,  she 
asked  her  mother  the  same  question,  and  she 
looked  up  from  the  moccasin  she  was  mending, 
and  said : 

"He  is  an  Iroquoise." 

Many  days  Soan-ge-ta-ha  and  his  family  lin 
gered  at  their  camp  on  the  Water-Lily  Lake. 
The  strawberries  dried  and  dropped  from  their 
stems  under  the  reddening  leaves,  then  the  low 
blueberry  bushes  began  to  droop  with  the  weight 
of  purpling  fruit.  Soan-ge-ta-ha  and  his  wife 
still  went  forth  with  their  empty  baskets  in  the 
morning  and  returned  with  them  full  at  night. 
The  cradle  of  the  Little  Beaver  still  hung  from 
the  fir  bough  and  O-me-me  kept  watch  beside  it. 

One  evening  she  sat  on  the  hillslope  and 
watched  the  red  sun  drop  into  the  lake,  and  the 
sky  rain  crimson  mist,  until  all  the  water  was 
dyed  like  blood.  She  saw  the  last  faint  breezes 
die,  leaving  the  lake  like  a  sheet  of  molten  glass. 
Then  the  crimson  changed  to  purple,  and  the  pur 
ple  to  palest  violet,  while  across  from  the  shore 
line  crept  the  encroaching  shadows.  Then,  as  the 
new  moon  swung  its  slender  crescent  above  the 


And    Other    Legends  91 

tree-tops,  she  crept  away  to  her  bed  of  leaves  and 
fir-spills. 

Next  morning  she  awoke  with  a  sense  of  some 
thing  new  and  strange  in  the  air.  A  soft  mist 
hung  over  water  and  sky,  and  through  it  the  sun 
shine  shone  mellow  and  subdued.  The  forest- 
fringed  shore  line  receded  in  a  blue  and  vapory 
haze,  and  the  breeze  that  rustled  the  long,  dried 
grasses  and  stirred  the  pine  trees,  was  not  the 
languorous  breath  of  yesterday,  but  in  a  melan 
choly  undertone  it  whispered  of  Autumn. 

The  little  river  that  sent  its  slender  silver 
line  far  inland  lay  still  and  clear  among  the 
rushes,  and  on  the  marshlands  the  purple  of  the 
water-hyacinth  mingled  with  browns,  and  greys, 
and  vivid  greens,  while,  on  a  slender  strip  of  up 
land,  rising  toward  the  forest,  was  a  glowing  sea 
of  goldenrod. 

How  had  it  happened,  this  strange  and  subtle 
change  which  in  a  single  night  had  created  a  new 
heaven  and  a  new  earth?  She  could  not  under 
stand;  but  somehow,  while  she  slept,  in  the  se 
cret  places  of  Nature's  workshop  the  change  had 
been  wrought. 


92  The   White  Canoe 

O-me-me  rubbed  her  eyes  to  make  sure  that 
she  was  awake,  and  looked  around  her.  A  crane, 
which  had  been  standing  motionless  in  the  shal 
low  water,  suddenly  spread  its  wings  and  lifted 
its  slender  body  across  her  field  of  vision.  Yes,  it 
was  real  and  she  was  wide  awake.  Then  she 
noticed  her  father  bending  over  the  fire  and 
fashioning  a  moose-call  from  a  bit  of  birch-bark. 

"It  is  Autumn,"  Soan-ge-ta-ha  said,  as  he  lifted 
it  to  his  lips,  and  sent  the  dull  bleating  sound 
into  the  forest  and  echoing  across  the  water.  "It 
is  Autumn,  the  corn  is  ripe,  we  will  go  home," 
and  putting  the  blankets  and  kettles  into  the 
canoe,  they  returned  to  their  lodge  on  the  border 
of  the  Great  Forest. 


And    Other    Legends  93 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  FEW  days  of  warm  mellow  sunshine,  when 
Yong-we  and  O-me-me  stripped  the  dried  husks 
from  the  corn-ears  and  braided  them  into  great 
yellow  fringes  with  which  to  festoon  their  lodge. 
A  few  warm,  lazy  days  in  the  meadows  gather 
ing  the  wild  rice,  then  there  came  a  wind  out  of 
the  Northland  which  sent  the  snow  flakes  whirl 
ing  through  the  forest  and  turned  the  water  in 
the  lakes  and  rivers  to  stone. 

Wilder  and  wilder  it  grew,  beating  and  twist 
ing  the  branches  of  the  trees,  howling  around 
the  lodge,  and  sending  the  smoke  in  blinding 
gusts  down  the  smoke-flue.  But  within  the  lodge 
there  was  warmth,  and  comfort,  and  light.  While 
the  stinging  snow  flakes  drove  hissing  against 
the  lodge,  and  the  winds  made  the  night  hideous, 
Soan-ge-ta-ha  heaped  pine  cones  on  the  lodge-fire 
and  told  wonderful  stories  of  Gush-ke-wah,  the 
Land  of  Darkness,  where  lived  the  giant  Kab-bi- 


94  The    White   Canoe 

bon-ok-ka,  and  how  the  storm  was  but  the 
breath  of  his  anger,  as  he  fought  with  his  brother 
Mud-je-ke-wis. 

So  O-me-me  laughed  at  the  storm  and  the  an 
gry  giant  while  she  nestled  in  the  furs  close  to 
her  father's  side,  and  she  heeded  not  that  the  sun 
had  hidden  his  face,  that  t1  e  days  were  short  and 
dark,  and  the  nights  long  and  cold. 

Long  the  Winter  lingered  in  the  forest,  long 
the  whiteness  lay  upon  the  plains — so  long  that 
one  day  Soan-ge-ta-ha  saw  that  the  meat  and  fish 
were  gone  and  that  little  rice  and  corn  remained 
in  the  baskets.  Strapping  on  his  snowshoes,  he 
took  his  bow  and  arrows  and  went  into  the  for 
est  to  find  food.  At  night  he  returned,  weary 
and  footsore,  with  snow  upon  his  garments  but 
with  all  the  arrows  in  his  quiver,  for  neither  deer 
nor  moose  had  he  seen  in  the  forest  and  never 
once  had  he  drawn  his  bow-string.  He  told  no 
stories  that  night,  but  sat  moody  and  silent  be 
side  the  fire ;  and  next  morning,  before  O-me-me 
was  awake,  he  had  gone  forth  again  into  the  for 
est.  But  always  it  was  the  same,  for  something 
strange  anc]  terrible  had  happened  to  Soan-ge-ta- 


And   Other    Legends  95 

ha.  His  lightest,  swiftest  arrows  dropped  harm 
less  to  the  ground  and  all  the  beasts  of  the  forest 
fled  taunting  and  defiant  before  their  old  enemy 
Soan-ge-ta-ha. 

Still  the  rivers  remained  locked  in  ice  and  the 
sonw  lay  heavy  on  the  trees.  Little  by  little  the 
rice  and  corn  disappeared  and  a  shadow  darker 
than  Winter  was  upon  them— the  gaunt  shadow 
of  Famine. 

Not  alone  did  Winter  and  Famine  come  to  the 
lodge  of  Soan-ge-ta-ha,  but  other  sorrows  fol 
lowed  close  upon  them  like  ill-omened  birds 
upon  their  prey.  As  he  returned  day  after  day 
from  his  fruitless  journey  ings  in  the  forest,  he 
found  Yong-we  wrapped  in  her  blanket  and  sit 
ting  moody  and  silent  over  the  lodge-fire.  No 
word  of  comfort  or  cheer  did  she  speak  and  not 
even  a  glance  of  the  eye  did  she  give  him  as  he 
came  in  at  night  and  went  out  in  the  morning. 

At  last  the  day  came  when  not  a  handful  of 
rice  and  corn  remained  in  the  baskets.  On  that 
morning  Yong-we  waited  until  Soan-ge-ta-ha 
had  disappeared  in  the  forest;  then  she  threw 
aside  her  blanket  and  arrayed  herself  in  bis  war- 


96  The    White   Canoe 

garments.  Taking  a  stone  axe  in  her  hand}  she 
bade  O-me-me  keep  the  wigwam  fire  burning, 
and  she,  too,  went  away  into  the  forest. 

O-me-me  did  as  her  mother  had  commanded, 
and  all  day  soothed  the  hungry  whimperings  of 
A-meek,  the  Little  Beaver,  while  she  warmed 
him  by  the  wigwam  fire,  and  at  evening  her 
mother  returned,  bringing  meat  for  their  supper. 
Hurriedly  she  hung  the  kettle  over  the  fire  and 
cooked  the  food ;  then,  bidding  the  little  girl  keep 
still,  she  removed  all  traces  of  the  meal  before  the 
return  of  Soan-ge-ta-ha. 

Day  after  day  this  was  repeated,  Soan-ge-ta-ha 
growing  weaker  and  fainter  with  fasting,  until  his 
hair  hung  dank  about  his  sharpened  face  and  his 
garments  hung  loose  upon  his  fleshless  limbs. 

At  first  O-me-me's  heart  was  heavy  with  doubt 
and  perplexity ;  then  it  grew  like  a  hot  coal  in  her 
bosom,  for  she  loved  her  father  more  than  any 
thing  on  earth,  and  she  saw  him  dying  with  hun 
ger  while  her  mother  prepared  feasts  in  secret. 

One  evening,  while  the  kettle  was  stewing  over 
the  fire,  O-me-me  watched  for  an  opportunity 
when  her  mother  was  not  looking,  and,  taking  a 


And    Other    Legends  97 

morsel  of  fat  from  the  kettle,  she  wrapped  it  in  a 
bit  of  bark  and  hid  it  in  her  bosom. 

That  night  her  father  came  home,  as  usual, 
haggard  and  weary  and  empty-handed,  and, 
throwing  himself  on  a  heap  of  skins,  he  was  soon 
asleep.  O-me-me  lay  down  beside  him  and  waited 
until  she  knew  that  her  mother  slept;  then  she 
softly  awoke  him,  and,  thrusting  into  his  hand  the 
savory  bit  which  she  had  stolen  from  the  kettle, 
she  told  him  all  the  story. 

Soan-ge-ta-ha  listened  to  the  end ;  and,  spring 
ing  up  from  the  bed  of  skins,  he  threw  the  bit  of 
fat  upon  the  smoldering  coals  of  the  wigwam 
fire.  Then,  like  the  anger  of  Soan-ge-ta-ha,  the 
fat  blazed  up  in  a  great  flame  until  all  the  sky 
was  reddened  and  all  the  trees  of  the  forest  shiv 
ered  and  trembled  in  its  glow. 

When  the  last  sputtering  flame  had  died  out  in 
the  ashes  and  the  wigwam  grew  dark,  Soan-ge- 
ta-ha  laid  him  down  again  on  the  skins  beside 
O-me-me,  and,  speaking  in  whispers,  he  said : 

"I  know  now  why  I  walk  all  day  in  the  trail  of 
the  moose  and  deer  until  my  limbs  are  weary  and 
my  body  faint,  and  kill  nothing.  I  know  why 


98  The    White  Canoe 

your  mother  answers  never  a  word  when  I  speak, 
but  sits  gazing  into  the  wigwam  fire.  The  spell 
of  an  enemy  is  upon  me;  the  spell  of  that  evil 
Kwan-o-shais-tah,  who  hates  me  bitterly;  and 
unless  it  is  broken  I  must  die.  Say  nothing  of 
what  I  have  told  you.  To-morrow  I  go  to  hunt, 
as  I  have  done  for  many  days,  and  do  you  wait  in 
the  wigwam  until  I  return." 

When  O-me-me  awoke  next  morning  her  father 
was  gone,  and  soon  her  mother  arrayed  herself  in 
his  war-garments  and  went  away  into  the  forest. 

Soan-ge-ta-ha  was  hidden  near  the  lodge  await 
ing  her  coming;  and,  gliding  from  tree  to  tree,  he 
followed  her  as  she  made  her  way  deeper  and 
deeper  into  the  forest. 

At  last  she  came  to  an  opening,  in  the  center  of 
which  stood  the  broken  trunk  of  a  dead  pine  tree. 
Going  up  to  it,  Yong-we  struck  upon  it  three 
times  with  her  stone  axe,  when  a  serpent  put  its 
head  out  of  a  hole  near  the  top  and  wound  its 
length  slowly  down  the  trunk.  No  sooner  had  it 
touched  the  ground  than  lo!  not  a  serpent,  but 
the  tall,  young  Troquoise  stood  before  her;  and 
as  he  bent  his  burning  eyes  upon  her,  he  said; 


And    Other    Legends  99 

''Why  are  you  so  late,  Ne-ne-moo-sha,  sweet 
heart?" 

Filled  with  rage  at  the  sight  of  his  faithless 
wife  and  her  lover,  Soan-ge-ta-ha  drew  his  long 
useless  bow,  and,  breathing  a  prayer  to  the  Mas 
ter  of  Life  for  revenge  upon  his  enemy,  he  loosed 
the  bow-string.  Then  the  evil  spell  fell  from 
Soan-ge-ta-ha,  and  behold!  not  one,  but  a  great 
cloud  of  arrows  filled  the  air,  and  Yong-we  and 
her  treacherous  lover  fell  pierced  by  many  darts. 

It  was  late  when  Soan-ge-ta-ha  returned  to  the 
lodge  where  O-me-me  waited  and  watched  with 
her  little  brother.  He  brought  meat  with  him 
for  the  first  time  in  many  days,  and  with  his  own 
hands  he  prepared  their  food.  When  they  had 
eaten  until  they  were  satisfied,  he  said  to  O-me- 
me: 

"Listen,  my  child,  while  I  speak.  We  can  live 
here  no  longer.  Your  mother  has  gone  away  and 
she  will  return  no  more.  She  has  gone  with  that 
evil  Kwan-o-shais-tah  the  Troquoise.  She  was 
not  a  good  mother;  she  was  a  meda — a  witch. 
She  loves  not  you,  she  loves  not  me;  she  loves 
only  the  Iroquoise.  This  day  the  spell  which  was 


ioo  The   White   Canoe 

upon  me  is  removed,  but  the  evil  spirits  which 
have  been  driven  away  from  me  will  now  pursue 
you,  my  children.  It  is  forbidden  me  to  leave  this 
place  for  many  moons,  but  you  must  take  your 
little  brother  and  go  to  a  place  which  I  shall  show 
you — a  place  of  peace  and  safety  in  the  Land  of 
the  Setting  Sun.  A  lodge  is  prepared  for  you, 
and  if  you  reach  it  you  will  live  safe  and  happy 
until  the  Great  Spirit  calls  you  from  this  Land 
of  Snows.  It  is  a  long  and  wearisome  journey, 
and  you  must  make  it  alone.  It  is  also  beset  with 
many  dangers,  for  the  Wen-di-goe,  the  giant  of 
the  forest,  will  pursue  you  and  seek  to  capture 
you  and  the  Little  Beaver,  that  he  may  carry  you 
away  to  his  lodge  in  the  forest.  Only  one  thing 
have  you  to  do  and  you  will  be  safe.  It  is  for  you 
to  remember  all  things  I  shall  command  you,  and 
obey.  Food  will  be  provided  for  you  from  day  to 
day,  and  the  flying  turtle,  the  messenger  of  the 
O  jib  ways,  will  bring  me  word  of  you  on  your 
long  journey.  Some  day  I  may  come  to  you  in 
your  lodge  in  the  Land  of  the  Setting  Sun ;  and  if 
not  there,  then  Che-bi-abos  will  guide  me  to  you 
in  the  Kingdom  of  Ponemah," 


And    Other    Legends 

So  spake  Soan-ge-ta-ha,  to  his  daughter  O-me- 
me,  and  then  lying  down  on  their  bed  of  skins 
they  slept  until  the  morning. 

Not  a  word  did  Soan-ge-ta-ha  speak  as  he  pre 
pared  the  last  meal  for  his  children,  for  his  heart 
was  like  a  stone  in  his  bosom.  Not  a  word  did 
O-me-me  say  as  she  followed  him  with  her  eyes. 
Little  she  ate,  and  when  the  meal  was  finished 
Soan-ge-ta-ha  wrapped  about  her  his  warmest 
blanket,  and  taking  strong  throngs  of  deer-skin 
he  bound  the  baby  to  her  back.  Placing  a  little 
kettle  in  her  hand  and  a  meda-bag  of  wampum 
around  her  neck,  he  said: 

"Take  nothing  but  these  upon  your  journey. 
Food  will  be  ready  for  the  kettle  from  day  to  day 
and  in  the  bag  is  everything  necessary  for  your 
protection.  Guard  it  well,  for  the  lives  of  your 
self  and  the  Little  Beaver  are  within.  When  the 
Wen-di-goe  shall  pursue  you  so  hard  that  no 
other  means  of  escape  remains,  put  your  hand 
into  the  bag  and  take  the  first  thing  which  your 
fingers  find  and  cast  it  upon  the  ground  behind 
you.  Until  that  time  touch  not  the  bag  nor  seek 
to  know  what  it  contains.  Remember  to  do  all 


102  The   White  Canoe 

things  as  I  have  commanded  you  and  you  will  be 
safe." 

O-me-me  kept  her  eyes  fastened  on  her  father's 
face  while  he  spoke,  but  nothing  could  she  see  for 
the  tears  that  blinded  her,  and  when  he  had  fin 
ished  no  word  could  she  speak  for  the  lump  which 
filled  her  throat  and  choked  her.  Once  she  opened 
her  lips  but  only  to  murmur  the  word  "Kne-ha, 
my  father!"  then  turning  her  back  to  the  sky 
glowing  with  the  sunrise,  she  walked  toward  the 
forest. 

Only  once  did  she  look  back  when  she  reached 
the  summit  of  the  slope.  Her  father  was  still 
standing  beside  the  lodge  motionless  as  a  pine 
tree,  but  as  she  paused,  hesitating,  he  lifted  his 
arm  as  if  to  urge  her  onward,  then,  breathing  a 
prayer  to  the  Master  of  Life  to  protect  her  and  to 
bring  her  father  to  her  again,  O-me-me  entered 
the  Great  Forest. 

All  day  she  walked  over  the  frozen  snow,  her 
back  bent  with  its  burden  and  her  eyes  stead 
fastly  kept  upon  the  ground.  All  about  her  was 
the  solitude  of  the  winter  woods.  Here  and 
there  a  robin  flitted  across  her  pathway,  and  her 


And    Other    Legends  103 

footsteps  frightened  a  flock  of  brown  birds  feed 
ing  in  a  cluster  of  dried  weeds.  To  the  right 
and  left  were  unbroken  stretches  of  snow  blurred 
by  cold  blue  shadows.  Lower  and  lower  toward 
the  tree-tops  dropped  the  disc  of  the  sun,  but 
O-me-me  trudged  on  in  the  track  of  its  yellow 
beams. 

Not  until  the  last  bit  of  its  rim  had  disap 
peared  below  the  horizon  did  she  pause.  Tired 
and  hungry  she  selected  a  sheltered  hollow  where 
the  fir  trees,  growing  close  together,  had  kept 
the  ground  free  from  snow,  and  under  the  ledge 
of  overhanging  rocks  she  built  a  fire  of  twigs  and 
pine  cones. 

Her  moccasins  were  torn  and  her  feet  were 
bleeding.  She  was  benumbed  with  cold  and  her 
body  was  sore  with  the  weight  she  had  carried 
all  day.  It  was  such  a  long  way  from  the  warm, 
safe  lodge  on  the  border  of  the  forest,  and  she 
was  so  lonely,  and  as  she  bent  over  the  fire  raking 
the  twigs  together,  a  few  tears  fell  with  hissing 
little  splashes  in  the  hot  ashes. 

Just  then  there  was  a  rustling  in  the  branches 
overhead,  a  crash  as  of  something  falling 


T04  The    White   Canoe 

through  the  boughs,  and  a  young  raccoon  dropped 
upon  the  ground  at  O-me-me's  feet. 

Her  heart  leaped  with  joy,  and  faith  in  her  fa 
ther's  promises  rushed  back  to  her.  He  had  told 
her  that  food  would  be  provided,  and  he  had  kept 
his  word.  He  said  she  would  be  safe  if  she 
obeyed,  and  now  she  knew  there  could  be  nothing 
to  fear. 

While  the  tears  dried  upon  her  cheeks  she  set 
to  work  to  dress  the  animal.  Soon  the  kettle  was 
bubbling  over  the  fire,  and,  after  a  savory  meal, 
she  gathered  the  baby  close  to  her  and  lay  down 
and  slept. 


f'U.i  ' 

llfil 

I  .  I  Zfc!E  LJTJTLE  BfAVE 

1    4  I 


And    Other    Legends  105 


CHAPTER  III. 

ANOTHER  day's  journey  and  again  the  sun  was 
dropping  low  to  the  tree-tops  when  O-me-me  be 
gan  to  look  about  her  for  a  place  to  camp  for  the 
night.  Again  she  was  weary  and  faint  with  hun 
ger,  but  now  she  was  happy,  for  all  her  father's 
promises  were  being  fulfilled.  She  was  a  day's 
journey  nearer  the  lodge  in  the  Land  of  the  Set 
ting  Sun,  and  not  a  sign  had  she  seen  of  the 
giant  of  the  forest,  the  evil  Wen-di-goe. 

She  turned  aside  into  a  ravine  where  she  hoped 
to  find  a  sheltered  place  where  she  might  build 
her  fire,  when  suddenly,  out  of  the  shadows  be 
hind  her  came  a  voice  calling, 

"Bak-ah!   Bak-ah!    Stop!    Stop!" 

Not  only  did  O-me-me's  feet  pause  in  their 
tracks  at  the  summons,  but  her  heart  stood  still 
in  her  bosom,  for  she  knew  it  could  be  none  other 
than  the  great  giant  against  whom  her  father  had 
warned  her. 

Only  a  moment  did  she  pause,  then  all  weari- 


io6  The    White  Canoe 

ness  fell  from  her  and  she  sped  forward  like  a 
frightened  Wau-bos  over  the  frozen  snow.  But 
O-me-me  was  no  match  for  her  pursuer.  The 
burden  of  the  baby  on  her  back  grew  heavier 
and  soon  she  could  only  stumble  forward  blindly 
while  the  voice  came  nearer  and  nearer  calling  all 
the  while,  "Bak-ah !  Bak-ah !" 

She  could  hear  the  crashing  of  the  boughs  as 
his  great  bulk  tore  its  way  through  the  forest, 
and  the  panting  of  his  breath  like  a  strong  wind 
behind  her,  nearer  and  nearer,  until  O-me-me 
knew  that  nothing  save  the  charm  in  her  father's 
meda-bag  could  save  her. 

Thrusting  her  trembling  hand  into  the  bag  her 
fingers  closed  over  a  small  substance  which  she 
drew  out  to  the  light  and  found  to  be  a  bit  of 
pnnk.  Only  a  moment  she  hesitated  with  doubt, 
then  remembering  the  raccoon  which  had  fallen 
beside  her  camp-fire  the  night  before,  she  breathed 
a  prayer  to  the  Gitchee  Manitou,  and  cast  the 
punk  upon  the  ground  behind  her.  Then  where  it 
fell  a  great  fire  sprang  up  and  spread  along  the 
sky,  so  high  that  none  might  cross  it,  and  so  wide 
that  not  in  many  days  could  one  go  around  it. 


And    Other    Legends  107 

Still  O-me-me  sped  forward  in  her  fear,  on  and 
on,  leaving  the  fire  and  the  raging  giant  far  behind 
her,  until  at  last  her  knees  gave  way  beneath  her 
and  she  found  herself  prone  upon  the  ground. 

Here  she  built  her  camp:fire  and  sat  down  be 
side  it  waiting,  never  doubting  that  her  father's 
promise  of  food  would  be  fulfilled.  Then,  while 
she  waited,  there  came  again  a  crashing  among 
the  branches,  and  a  young  beaver  fell  at  her  feet. 
So  was  food  provided,  and  with  the  glow  of  the 
great  fire  between  her  and  the  enemy,  O-me-me 
lay  down  and  slept. 

Thus  O-me-me  journeyed  on  from  day  to  day 
toward  her  home  in  the  Land  of  the  Setting  Sun. 
Seven  days  she  journeyed  through  the  forest,  and 
now  she  was  growing  very  lonely,  for  there  was 
still  no  sign  of  the  lodge  that  was  prepared  for 
her,  and  in  all  the  forest  there  was  no  creature  for 
her  to  speak  to.  The  birds,  her  friends  of  the 
summer  time,  had  gone  to  the  Land  of  Shaw-on- 
da-see,  and  the  Wau-bos  and  the  Ska-no-do,  and 
all  the  creatures  of  the  forest  fled  from  her  as 
from  a  stranger  from  a  far  country. 

There  was  no  one  to  speak  to  in  all  the  desolate 


io8  The   White  Canoe 

woods,  and  as  O-me-me  raked  the  twigs  together 
on  her  camp-fire,  she  wondered  how  many  more 
nights  she  must  tarry  in  the  forest  before  she 
reached  the  lodge  which  her  father  had  promised. 
O-me-me  had  forgotten  to  be  grateful  for  the 
food  which  was  sent  her  from  day  to  day,  and  for 
the  great  fire  which  had  saved  her  from  the  giant. 
Then  there  came  to  her  again  out  of  the  forest 
that  voice  which  she  had  heard  before,  crying : 

"Esa !  Esa !  Shame !  Shame !  to  flee  from  your 
old  Nesh-o-miss,  Grandfather,  who  wants  but  a 
bit  of  food  from  your  kettle.  Esa !  Esa !  wicked 
O-me-me !" 

O-me-me  had  placed  the  baby  on  a  bed  of 
leaves  while  she  made  the  fire,  but  now  she 
seized  him  and  fled  from  the  voice  of  her  enemy. 
Swift  as  her  feet  would  carry  her  she  fled  in  the 
direction  of  the  glow  still  lingering  behind  the 
trees,  and  still  the  voice  called  close  behind  her: 
"Esa !  Esa !  wicked  O-me-me !  Bak-ah !  Bak- 
ah !  Wait  for  your  old  Nesh-o-miss !" 

O-me-me  ran  on  through  the  forest ;  but  now 
she  had  little  fear  of  the  giant,  for  the  meda-bag 
hung  safe  around  her  neck,  and  in  it  were 


And    Other    Legends  109 

charms  which  would  protect  her  from  all  danger. 
Thrusting  in  her  hand  for  another  bit  of  punk  she 
felt  her  fingers  close  over  a  hard  substance  which 
she  drew  out  to  the  light  and  found  to  be  not  punk 
at  all  but  a  beaver's  tooth.  Holding  it  close  in 
her  hand  she  ran  on  waiting  for  her  pursuer  to 
come  nearer  that  she  might  taunt  him  and  show 
him  how  even  a  little  girl  might  foil  him. 

Nearer  and  nearer  he  came,  and  then  O-me-me 
looked  back,  and,  in  full  security  of  the  charm 
which  she  held  in  her  hand,  she  called  to  him 
tauntingly:  "Come  on!  Come  on!  How  slow 
you  are,  Nesh-o-miss !  See,  I  am  waiting!" 
Laughing  and  careless  in  her  safety,  O-me-me 
cast  the  beaver's  tooth  from  her,  but,  alas  for  hap 
less  O-me-me,  she  cast  it  not  behind  her  as  her 
father  had  commanded,  but  on  the  ground  before ! 
Then  where  it  touched  the  earth  there  sprang  up 
a  wide  and  swift  flowing  river,  while  close  behind 
her  came  her  enemy,  so  close  that  she  could  see 
the  marks  about  his  eyes  and  the  hideous  smile 
upon  his  face. 

"Now  you  will  wait,  my  No-sis,  my  grand 
child,"  he  called,  "I  will  run  no  longer,  for  surely 


no  The   White  Canoe 

we  will  both  sup  from  the  same  kettle  to-night/' 
and  she  could  hear  his  panting  breath  as  his  steps 
slowed  to  a  walk. 

O-me-me  looked  at  the  baby  in  her  arms,  which 
she  had  promised  her  father  to  take  care  of,  and 
she  wondered  if  it  were  not  better  to  cast  it  into 
the  foaming  rapids  than  allow  it  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  evil  Wen-di-goe.  O-me-me  was  a 
very  brave  little  girl ;  she  would  meet  her  own 
punishment  and  soon  she  would  be  with  the  baby 
again.  She  lifted  it  high  in  her  arms  as  if  to  cast 
it  far  out  into  the  river  beyond  the  reach  of  the 
enemy,  when  a  voice  close  beside  her  stayed  her 
arm. 

"Wait,  wait,  O-me-me !"  the  voice  said.  "You 
did  not  wilfully  disobey  your  father  and  I  have 
been  sent  to  help  you,"  and  there,  close  under  the 
bank  of  the  river,  was  a  great  white  loon. 

"Yes,"  the  loon  continued,  speaking  to  O-me- 
me,  "I  know  you.  I  have  seen  you  gathering  wild 
rice  on  the  marshlands  near  the  border  of  the 
Great  Forest,  and  I  have  seen  you  beside  the 
Water-Lily  Lake.  I  know  of  your  long  journey 
and  how  brave  and  patient  you  have  been,  and 


And    Other    Legends  in 

now  I  am  going  to  help  you  across  the  river  and 
save  you  from  the  Wen-di-goe.  Take  the  baby 
and  get  upon  my  back." 

So  on  the  great  strong  wings  of  the  White 
Loon  O-me-me  and  the  Little  Beaver  were  carried 
across  the  river  and  landed  safely  on  the  other 
side,  and  while  she  made  a  fire  and  cooked  their 
supper  she  could  hear  above  the  roar  of  the 
rapids  the  saw-saw-quan  of  the  Wen-di-goe  as 
he  raged  up  and  down  the  bank  of  the  river  seek 
ing  means  to  cross. 

O-me-me  knew  that  he  would  find  a  way  when 
daylight  came,  so  before  it  was  light  she  was  far 
upon  her  journey.  But  there  was  great  fear  in 
her  heart  for  when  she  took  the  beaver's  tooth 
from  the  meda-bag  she  discovered  that  but  one 
charm  remained,  and  on  this  depended  her  safety 
for  the  remainder  of  her  journey.  How  long  it 
would  be  she  did  not  know.  Every  crackling 
twig  caused  her  to  start  with  fright,  and  the  call 
of  the  beasts  in  the  forest  made  her  heart  leap 
within  her  with  fear.  Not  once  did  she  pause 
to  rest  her  weary  limbs  through  the  day,  but 


H2  The    White   Canoe 

straight  forward  she  pressed  in  the  track  of  the 
sunset. 

"So  you  thought  to  outrun  me,  my  little  No-sis," 
the  voice  of  O-me-me's  enemy  again  called  to  her. 
"Your  Nesh-o-miss  is  old  but  he  is  very  swift, 
and  not  the  magic  fire  nor  yet  the  magic  flood 
could  turn  him  aside.  Esa!  Esa!  O-me-me, 
when  your  grandfather  would  but  walk  with  you 
and  have  a  bit  of  fat  from  your  kettle!  Surely 
there  is  enough  to  spare  him  a  morsel.  The  baby 
is  very  heavy  and  you  have  carried  it  long.  Wait 
Nesh-o-miss,  he  is  strong  and  he  will  carry  the 
baby/' 

Panting  and  breathless  O-me-me  stumbled  on 
through  the  forest,  the  voice  coming  nearer  and 
nearer  at  every  step.  She  knew  she  could  not 
outrun  him,  the  great  giant  who  was  so  tall  and 
strong,  but  she  dare  not  use  the  last  charm  which 
remained  in  the  meda-bag. 

"The  baby  is  very  heavy,  O-me-me,"  the  voice 
called,  now  near  than  ever  before.  "You  have 
carried  it  for  many  days,  O-me-me.  Wait  for 
Nesh-o-miss,  he  is  strong  and  he  will  carry  the 
baby," 


And    Other    Legends  113 

Yes,  it  was  the  baby  he  wanted !  There  was  no 
doubt  in  O-me-me's  mind  now ;  the  precious  baby 
that  she  had  tended  since  first  he  opened  his  eyes 
and  blinked  at  her  in  the  sunshine  of  the  wigwam 
door. .  She  had  been  told  that  the  Wen-di-goe  car 
ried  the  babies  far  away  into  the  forests,  where 
he  killed  and  ate  them,  and  now  he  was  coming 
close  behind  her  calling  for  the  baby. 

She  must  save  it,  no  matter  what  happened 
afterward,  so  she  seized  the  last  charm  in  the 
meda-bag,  a  bit  of  flint,  and  casting  it  behind  her, 
she  sank  upon  the  ground  overcome  with  weari 
ness  and  fear. 

She  lay  upon  the  ground  waiting  for  some  sign 
of  the  Wen-di-goe,  expecting  every  moment  to 
hear  his  thunderous  voice  calling  her  and  to  see 
his  evil  eyes  bending  over  her.  But  not  a  sound 
did  she  hear,  and  then  she  fell  to  wondering  what 
happened  when  she  threw  the  last  charm  to  the 
ground.  At  last  she  raised  herself  from  the  earth 
to  see  what  the  charm  had  wrought,  and  there 
towering  above  her  she  saw  the  gleaming  slopes 
of  a  mountain  of  pure  jasper.  Yes,  she  was  saved ; 
for  nothing  could  scale  the  precipitous  sides,  and 


ii4  The   White  Canoe 

it  would  take  many  days  for  even  the  tireless 
Wen-di-goe  to  go  around  it. 

Filled  with  a  sense  of  security  O-me-me  gath 
ered  the  Little  Beaver  close  to  her  and  lay  down 
on  the  ground  and  slept. 

"No-sis  pen-de-ga,  my  grandchild,  come  in." 
O-me-me  moved  uneasily  on  her  hard  couch. 
Was  it  a  real  voice  calling  to  her  so  faintly  or 
was  it  but  a  part  of  her  dream  ?  Again  it  sounded 
clearer  but  very  faint,  and  now  she  knew  that 
some  one  was  speaking  close  to  her. 

"No-sis  pen-de-ga." 

O-me-me  rubbed  her  eyes  very  hard  and  looked 
around  but  not  a  soul  could  she  see.  Behind  her 
towered  the  shining  sides  of  the  jasper  mountain 
and  there  was  no  one  in  the  forest  that  lay  before. 
The  voice  seemed  to  come  from  the  earth  at  her 
feet,  but  she  could  see  nothing  save  a  tiny  white 
worm  lying  among  the  bits  of  flint  which  seemed 
to  have  scaled  from  the  sides  of  the  mountain. 

"Fear  not,"  the  voice  again  said,  and  now 
O-me-me  knew  that  it  was  the  little  white  worm 
speaking.  "I  am  a  Puk-wud-jie,  a  fairy.  You 
have  never  seen  me  but  I  have  seen  you  many 


And    Other    Legends  115 

times.  I  have  hidden  among  the  ferns  that  grew 
around  Water-Lily  Lake  and  watched  you  tend 
the  baby  all  the  summer  long.  I  have  come  on 
the  winds  of  Winter  and  rested  on  the  poles  of 
your  wigwam  and  seen  how  you  kept  the  fire 
burning  when  the  days  were  long  and  cold,  and 
how  you  saved  the  best  of  the  food  for  the  Little 
Beaver  when  there  was  not  enough  for  both.  I 
know  how  you  tried  to  save  your  father  from 
starving,  and  how  you  obeyed  your  mother  when 
she  was  wicked  and  forgot  to  be  kind.  I  am  the 
Puk-wud-jie  who  watches  over  you  always,  and 
will  be  near  to  give  you  aid  when  you  are  in  need. 
Many  days  ago  the  flying  turtle  brought  me  word 
of  your  coming  and  I  have  been  waiting  for  you. 
It  has  been  a  long  journey,  but  you  have  been 
brave.  Your  last  charm  is  gone  and  now  you  are 
to  come  in  and  rest  and  prepare  for  the  remainder 
of  the  journey." 

O-me-me  looked  in  doubt  and  wonder  at  the 
great  jasper  walls  towering  high  above  her  and 
then  at  the  little  white  worm  lying  among  the 
scales  of  flint. 

'Tear  not,"  the  little  white  worm  chirped  again, 


ii6  The    White   Canoe 

seeing  her  hesitation.  "Lie  clown  on  the  ground 
and  close  your  eyes,  when  you  open  them  you  will 
see  the  way." 

But  still  O-me-me  hesitated.  Might  not  this  be 
some  trick  of  the  Wen-di-goe  to  deceive  her  and 
get  her  in  his  power?  She  had  heard  of  the  Pnk- 
wud-jies  many  times,  and  knew,  that  though  they 
were  small,  they  had  power  to  defeat  the  strongest 
giant,  but  she  had  never  seen  one  and  how  could 
she  know  that  what  the  little  white  worm  told  her 
was  true. 

"It  is  right  that  you  should  be  cautious,"  the 
little  white  worm  said,  "but  the  messenger  from 
your  father  bids  you  to  stop  here  and  rest,  that 
you  may  be  able  to  continue  your  journey." 

It  was  enough,  and  immediately  O-me-me  did 
as  the  little  white  worm  had  commanded  her.  For 
a  moment  she  lay  on  the  ground  with  closed  eyes, 
then  when  she  opened  them  she  found  that  the 
little  white  worm  was  little  no  longer  but  larger 
than  O-me-me  herself.  She  looked  about  for  the 
Little  Beaver,  but  he  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  In 
his  stead  was  a  tiny  white  worm,  which  she  was 
sure  had  not  been  there  when  she  closed  her  eyes. 


And    Other    Legends  117 

"Yes,  it  is  the  Little  Beaver,"  the  little  while 
worm  said.  "We  are  all  worms  together,  and  now 
you  have  only  to  creep  through  this  hole  to  the  in 
side  of  the  jasper  mountain." 

As  she  spoke  she  drew  herself  through  a  hole 
in  the  side  of  the  mountain  which  was  so  small 
O-me-me  had  not  seen  it  before. 

"No-sis  pen-de-ga,"  she  called  from  the  other 
side,  and  no  longer  fearing,  O-me-me  and  her  lit 
tle  brother  followed  the  Puk-wud-jie  through  the 
side  of  the  mountain.  A  narrow  dark  passage, 
and  then  when  they  came  into  the  light  the  little 
white  worm  was  nowhere  in  sight,  but  a  little  old 
No-ko-miss  with  wrinkled  face  stood  smiling 
down  at  them. 

"Stand  up,  O-me-me,"  she  said,  and  then  O-me- 
me  stood  up  her  own  self  again  with  the  baby  on 
her  back. 


u8  The    White  Canoe 


CHAPTER  IV. 

O-ME-ME  stood  looking  about  her  in  bewilder 
ment,  then  she  rubbed  her  eyes  very  hard  to  make 
sure  that  she  was  awake.  So  strange  and  wonder 
ful  were  the  things  that  had  happened  to  her  that 
she  found  it  hard  to  separate  the  events  of  the  day 
from  the  dreams  of  the  night.  It  was  all  like  one 
long  dream  from  which  she  could  not  awake,  or 
like  the  stories  which  her  father  told  when  they  sat 
together  over  the  lodge-fire  on  the  border  of  the 
Great  Forest.  Only  this  was  more  wonderful 
than  any  dream  O-me-me  had  ever  dreamed,  so 
she  still  stood  looking  around  her  and  trying  in 
vain  to  wake  up. 

When  she  went  to  sleep  on  the  outside  of  the 
jasper  mountain  it  was  winter,  cold,  bitter  winter, 
with  the  ground  hard  and  frozen,  and  the  snow 
heavy  on  the  trees.  Not  a  flower  had  she  seen 
since  those  last  days  of  Autumn  when  a  Spirit 
came  out  of  the  Northland  and  breathed  upon  the 
forests  and  the  meadows.  Then  the  flowers  black- 


And    Other    Legends  119 

ened  and  drooped  on  their  stems,  and  the  leaves  of 
the  forest  withered  and  fell  to  the  ground.  Also, 
at  the  coming  of  this  Spirit  out  of  the  Northland 
the  birds  of  the  Summer  had  gone  away  to  the 
Land  of  Shaw-on-dasee,  and  all  fair  and  beautiful 
things  disappeared  before  the  Spirit  which  her 
alded  the  approach  of  the  mighty  Kab-bi-bon- 
ok-ka. 

But  now  a  green  meadow  stretched  out  before 
her,  and  through  the  midst  of  it  flowed  a  clear 
and  sparkling  stream.  Skirting  the  meadow  was 
a  forest,  and  in  the  branches  flitted  her  friends 
of  the  Summer,  the  birds  that  twitted  and  taunted 
and  teased  O-me-me  when  she  was  safe  and 
happy  in  the  camp  beside  the  Water-Lily  Lake; 
but  now  they  all  sang  together :  "Welcome !  Wel 
come  !  O-me-me !" 

"Yes,  it  is  true,"  the  little  old  No-ko-miss  said, 
smiling  at  O-me-me's  bewilderment.  "You  are 
not  dreaming,  but  you  are  in  the  land  of  the  Puk- 
wud-jies,  a  land  where  you  have  but  to  wish  and 
it  is  done.  Here  we  have  whatever  weather  and 
whatever  season  we  desire;  but  now,  after  your 
long,  cold  journey,  we  have  desired  this  Summer 


120  The    White   Canoe 

that  you  may  warm  yourself  in  the  breath  of 
Shaw-on-dasee,  and  hear  the  song  of  the  O-pe- 
chee  and  the  O-wa-issa  again." 

Not  a  word  could  O-me-me  answer,  but  she 
stood  looking  at  the  beautiful  woodland  and  the 
sunny  meadow,  thinking  how  delightful  it  must 
be  to  live  in  a  land  where  one  could  have  sunshine 
and  flowers  for  the  wishing. 

While  she  looked  and  wondered,  suddenly  a 
shower  of  snow  flakes  came  out  of  the  blue  sky, 
covering  her  garments  and  filling  .her  hair,  and 
drifting  in  heaps  about  her  feet.  What  could  it 
mean?  Had  some  other  Puk-wud-jie  suddenly  de 
sired  a  snow  storm?  How  could  they  manage 
such  conflicting  wishes  in  this  strange  country? 
Perhaps  it  might  not  be  so  delightful  after  all  to 
live  in  a  land  where  everybody  got  just  what  they 
wanted ! 

Thicker  and  faster  the  flakes  came  out  of  the 
Summer  sky,  floating  and  whirling  until  O-me- 
me  and  Little  Beaver  and  the  little  No-ko-miss 
were  enveloped  in  a  furious  storm  of  snow. 

At  last  O-me-me  heard  the  queer  cackling  laugh 
of  the  little  old  No-ko-miss : 


And    Other    Legends  121 

"No,  it  is  not  a  real  snow  storm,"  she  said  be 
tween  her  cackling  and  her  laughter.     "It  is  the 
Little   White   Medicine   Man   come   to  welcome 
you  to  the  Land  of  the  Puk-wud-jies,"  and  taking 
O-me-me  by  the  shoulders,  the  little  old  No-ko- 
miss  turned  her  about  so  that  she  saw  nodding, 
and  dancing,  and  smiling  behind  her,  the  queerest 
little  old  man   her  eyes   had   ever  beheld.     His 
body  was  painted  white,  and  over  his  shoulders 
was  a  mantle  of  white  wolf  skins.    A  queer  head 
dress   of  raven's   feathers   and   porcupine   quills 
towered  high  above  him,  and  on  this  was  heaped 
a   great   mass   of   swan's    down,    which,    as    he 
danced,   and   whirled,   and   tossed   his    feathers, 
flew  in  a  miniature  snow  storm  around  O-me-me. 
"Come!   Come!"  he  called,  dancing  on  before, 
nodding,  and  whirling,  and  scattering  his  snow  in 
their  pathway.     "Come!    Come!"  and  they  fol 
lowed  him  across  the  meadow,  up  the  slope  of  the 
hillside  and  through  the  village  of  the  Puk-wud- 
jies. 

Not  a  sound  did  O-me-me  hear  as  they  passed 
through  the  village  save  the  chanting  of  the  Little 
White  Medicine  Man  as  he  danced  on  before;  but 


122  The    White    Canoe 

strange  faces  peered  at  her  from  the  tiny  lodges 
as  she  passed. 

On  the  farther  side  of  the  village  he  led  her 
to  a  lodge  which  had  been  newly  swept  and  spread 
with  fresh  fir  boughs.  As  he  paused  before  the 
lodge  door  he  shook  the  last  remaining  bits  of 
down  from  his  quills,  and  the  little  old  No-ko- 
miss  lifted  the  curtain  from  the  lodge  door  in 
viting  O-me-me  to  enter. 

"Here  you  are  to  remain,"  the  little  No-ko-miss 
said,  "until  the  Meda  of  the  Puk-wud-jies  breaks 
the  spell  of  the  wicked  Wen-di-goe,  that  you 
may  continue  your  journey  in  safety.  You  were 
given  only  the  charms  which  were  necessary  to 
bring  you  here,  and  now  the  Puk-wud-jies  must 
send  you  in  safety  to  the  lodge  in  the  Land  of  the 
Setting  Sun." 

O-me-me  lay  down  on  the  bed  of  fir  boughs, 
grateful  for  the  warmth  and  comfort  after  her 
long  and  dreary  journey,  and  while  she  lay  there 
half  awake  and  half  asleep,  three  boys  entered  the 
lodge  bearing  bowls  of  meat  and  corn.  Their 
bodies  were  painted  yellow  but  their  heads  were 
white,  like  that  of  the  Meda,  and  O-me-me  knew 


And    Other    Legends  123 

they  were  the  Antelope  Boys  of  whom  her  father 
had  told  her. 

The  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  when  O-me-me 
awoke  to  the  sound  of  the  rattles  and  the  drum, 
and  when  she  arose  from  her  bed  of  fir  boughs 
the  Antelope  Boys  again  stood  before  her  with 
bowls  of  food. 

When  she  had  finished  eating,  the  little  old 
No-ko-miss  entered  the  lodge  nodding  and  smil 
ing,  and  bade  O-me-me  take  the  Little  Beaver  and 
follow  her.  Wondering  what  new  and  strange 
experiences  awaited  her,  O-me-me  did  as  she  was 
bidden  and  followed  the  little  old  No-ko-miss  out 
of  the  lodge  and  into  the  village  through  which 
she  had  passed  before. 

Now  all  the  village  was  astir.  Around  the 
medicine  lodge,  which  stood  in  the  center  of  the 
village,  was  gathered  a  great  company  of  the  Puk- 
wud-jies.  Near  the  door  of  the  lodge  lay  a  canoe 
of  birch-bark  and  around  it  crouched  eight  young 
men  clothed  in  skins  of  buffalo.  As  O-me-me 
and  the  little  old  No-ko-miss  came  into  the  circle 
they  arose  to  their  feet  and  stood  in  pairs  around 


124  The    White    Canoe 

the  canoe,  shaking  their  mysterious  rattles  and 
chanting  a  strange  weird  song. 

Faster  and  faster  grew  the  music  when  two  of 
the  young  men  leaped  into  the  midst  of  the  circle 
and  began  to  dance.  The  body  of  one  was  painted 
black  and  covered  with  white  stars,  while  the  other 
was  striped  with  red  and  yellow  like  rays  of  sun 
light. 

As  the  circle  widened  about  the  medicine  lodge 
O-me-me  saw  that  two  of  the  young  men,  wearing 
the  skins  of  grizzly  bears,  remained  crouched  be 
side  the  canoe,  and  the  little  old  No-ko-miss  told 
her  that  these  represented  the  evil  spirits  which 
brought  sickness,  and  famine,  and  all  trouble  to 
the  people.  These  spirits  must  first  be  appeased 
before  the  great  encounter  with  the  mighty  Wen- 
di-goe,  the  Chief  of  Evil  Spirits. 

Faster  grew  the  music  and  wilder  the  dance 
when  suddenly  the  Antelope  Boys  appeared  bear 
ing  bowls  of  food,  and  breaking  through  the 
whirling  line  of  dancers  they  approached  the 
crouching  evil  Spirits  beside  the  canoe.  Kneel 
ing,  they  presented  the  bowls  of  food,  and,  after 


And    Other    Legends  125 

examining  them  a  moment,  the  Spirits  seized 
them  and  made  off  into  the  woods. 

Then  the  old  men  who  sat  around  the  circle 
began  to  beat  their  drums  of  deer's  hide,  and 
lifted  their  voices  in  a  strange,  wild  chant  such  as 
O-me-me  had  never  heard  before,  while  all  the 
people  swelled  it  with  their  voices.  As  the  music 
ceased  one  of  the  old  men  leaped  into  the  circle 
and  began  to  harangue  the  people.  Their  prayers 
had  been  heard  by  the  Great  Master  of  Life,  he 
told  them ;  because  they  were  untiring  in  the  chase 
and  fearless  in  battle;  because  they  were  kind  to 
the  old  men,  and  taught  the  young  ones  courage, 
he  had  granted  them  peace,  and  plenty,  and  vic 
tory  over  all  their  enemies.  As  a  proof  of  this 
the  Chief  of  Evil  Spirits  had  not  yet  dared  to 
show  his  face  in  their  midst. 

One  after  another  the  old  men  stood  up  and 
harangued  the  people,  boasting  of  the  power  of  the 
Puk-wud-jies  and  challenging  the  Chief  of  Evil 
Spirits,  the  mighty  Wen-di-goe. 

When  the  speeches  were  ended  the  people 
joined  in  a  great  shout  of  triumph,  and  O-me-me's 
heart  swelled  with  pride  at  the  courage  of  the 


126  The    White    Canoe 

little  people  who  dared  defy  the  great  Wen-di-goe. 
She  wondered  at  her  own  terror  when  he  pur 
sued  her  in  the  forest,  and  felt  that  she  could  no 
longer  fear  one  who  dare  not  meet  the  taunting  of 
the  Puk-wud-jies. 

Suddenly,  while  O-me-me  listened  with  swell 
ing  pride,  the  -drums  and  rattles  stopped,  the 
boasting  of  the  old  men  grew  still  and  a  hush  fell 
upon  the  people.  All  eyes  were  turned  toward  the 
brow  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  village,  and  fol 
lowing  their  gaze  O-me-me  felt  her  hair  creep  in 
terror  under  its  band  of  deer  thongs.  There, 
standing  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  loomed  the 
great  figure  of  the  Wen-di-goe  whom  they  had 
been  reviling,  and  to  the  eyes  of  O-me-me  seemed 
more  terrible  than  he  had  ever  appeared  in  the 
forest. 

In  his  hand  he  held  a  staff  tipped  with  crimson, 
and  he  rested  upon  it  regarding  with  contempt 
the  puny  people  who  had  dared  defy  him.  The 
Puk-wud-jies  returned  his  gaze,  motionless  as 
if  frozen  with  fear,  and  he  dropped  the  crimson 
tip  of  his  staff  to  the  ground,  and  pushing  it  on  the 


And   Other    Legends  127 

earth  before  him,  he  rushed  upon  the  village  like 
a  destroying  hurricane. 

The  Puk-wud-jies  fell  back  upon  one  another 
crying  aloud  in  terror,  and  O-me-me  clutching 
the  baby  close  to  her,  searched  frantically  in  the 
meda-bag,  if  by  any  chance  another  charm  re 
mained.  On  and  on  she  ran  in  the  direction  of 
the  opening  through  which  she  had  entered  the 
jasper  mountain,  and  wondering  if,  after  all,  the 
Puk-wud-jies  had  deceived  her  and  brought  her 
here  to  be  destroyed  by  the  evil  Wen-di-goe. 
Remembering  their  own  terror  she  knew  this 
could  not  be  true,  and  as  she  stumbled  on,  the 
Little  White  Medicine  Man  passed  her  with  a 
rush,  going  forward  to  meet  the  mighty  Wen-di- 
goe. 

O-me-me  turned  to  look  after  him  and  saw  the 
Wen-di-goe  cross  the  magic  circle  which  sur 
rounded  the  medicine  lodge,  and  as  he  did  so 
the  Little  White  Medicine  Man  likewise  leaped 
into  the  circle  and  seized  the  magic  pipe  into 
which  the  Great  Manitou  had  dropped  a  coal  of 
living  fire. 
.  The  Uttle  White  Medicine  Man  hekl  the  pipe 


128  The   White    Canoe 

before  the  face  of  the  great  Wen-di-goe,  and 
suddenly  he  stopped  as  if  turned  to  stone,  for 
nothing  evil  had  ever  been  able  to  stand  before 
the  living  fire  of  the  Great  Manitou.  His  evil  eyes 
glared  and  his  hideous  figure  stiffened  before  the 
Little  White  Medicine  Man  and  his  magic  pipe. 
The  women  who  had  fled  shrieking  before  their 
enemy,  seeing  him  standing  helpless  in  their 
midst  returned  and  danced  and  shouted  around 
him  in  derision. 

The  Wen-di-goe  could  not  move  his  eyes  from 
the  magic  pipe  which  the  Little  White  Medicine 
Man  held  before  him.  Trembling  with  fear 
O-me-me  crept  back  to  watch  the  contest.  Which 
would  conquer,  the  Little  White  Medicine  Man, 
his  frame  wasted  with  much  fasting  and  his  face 
furrowed  by  many  years,  or  the  Wen-di-goe  who 
towered  above  him,  mighty  and  strong?  O-me- 
me  knew  not  of  the  live  coal  which  the  Great 
Manitou  had  dropped  from  heaven,  or  she  had  not 
feared  for  the  Little  White  Medicine  Man. 
Earnestly  she  prayed  to  the  Great  Master  of 
Life  to  strengthen  the  arms  which  held  the  pipe, 
and  even  as  she  prayed  the  eyes  of  the  evil  Wen* 


And    Other    Legends  129 

di-goe    wavered,    his   muscles    relaxed   and    the 
crimson  tipped  staff  fell  to  the  ground. 

Then  a  mighty  shout  of  triumph  went  up  from 
the  village  of  the  Puk-wud-jies,  for  their  enemy 
was  conquered.  One  of  the  women  sprang  into 
the  circle,  and  seizing  the  staff,  broke  it  in  pieces 
and  flung  them  into  the  face  of  the  conquered 
Wen-di-goe.  Emboldened  by  her  act  the  others 
followed,  pelting  him  with  sticks  and  stones  until 
he  turned  and  fled  into  the  woods. 

Then  the  old  men  seized  their  flutes,  and  drums, 
and  rattles,  and  made  a  joyful  noise,  while  all  the 
Puk-wud-jies  danced  and  shouted  at  the  victory 
of  the  Little  White  Medicine  Man.  Even  the 
wrinkled  little  old  No-ko-miss  seized  the  hand  of 
O-me-me  and  drew  her  into  the  dancing  circle. 

"He  is  gone!  He  is  gone!"  she  sang.  "Our 
wicked  enemy,  the  great  Wen-di-goe,  is  con 
quered,  and  not  for  twelve  moons  will  he  show 
his  face  in  the  land  of  the  Puk-wud-jies.  Back 
to  his  cave  beyond  the  great  North  Forest  has 
gone  the  wicked  Wen-di-goe,  where  the  sun 
never  shines  and  the  snow  never  melts,  to  the 


130  The   White    Canoe 

Land  of  Gush-ke-wa,  the  Land  of  Darkness  has 
gone  the  evil  Wen-di-goe !" 

Then  the  little  old  No-ko-miss  took  O-me-me 
by  the  hand,  and,  while  all  the  company  of  the 
Puk-wud-jies  followed  dancing  and  shouting-, 
and  the  Little  White  Medicine  Man  nodded  and 
whirled  and  covered  her  again  with  his  minia 
ture  snow  storm,  they  led  her  to  the  entrance 
of  the  jasper  mountain. 


And    Other    Legends  131 


CHAPTER  V. 

O-ME-ME'S  heart  sank  within  her  as  she  re 
membered  all  the  dangers  through  which  she  had 
passed  and  that  now  not  a  single  charm  remained 
in  the  meda-bag.  If  only  she  might  stay  here 
with  these  wise  and  good  Little  People  safe  in 
side  the  jasper  mountain!  But  her  father  had 
bidden  her  go  on  to  the  lodge  which  was  prepared 
for  her  in  the  Land  of  the  Setting  Sun,  and  she 
dare  not  stop  until  his  commands  had  been 
obeyed.  How  long  the  journey  might  be,  and 
what  things  should  yet  befall  her,  she  knew  not; 
but  she  must  go  on  to  the  end.  As  O-me-me 
walked  and  pondered  with  the  baby  on  her  back, 
her  head  was  bowed,  and  she  could  not  see  the 
snow  storm  of  the  Little  White  Medicine  Man 
for  the  tears  that  clouded  her  eyes. 

"Fear  not,  No-sis,"  the  little  old  No-koumiss 
said  a§  she  walked  beside  her,  "Only  a  few  more 


132  The    White    Canoe 

days  and  your  journey  will  be  ended.  The  evil 
Wen-di-goe  is  conquered  and  is  now  a  prisoner 
in  his  cave  in  the  Land  of  Gush-ke-wa.  Before 
he  is  released  you  will  be  safe  in  your  lodge  in 
the  Land  of  the  Setting  Sun.  Only  remember  all 
your  father  told  you  and  it  will  be  well,  and  re 
member  that  the  Puk-wud-jies  keep  watch  over 
children  who  obey." 

Even  as  the  little  old  No-ko-miss  spoke  the 
walls  of  the  jasper  mountain  melted  away  and  be 
fore  O-me-me  could  wipe  the  tears  from  her 
eyes  she  found  herself  standing  alone  in  the  for 
est  with  the  baby  on  her  back. 

Then  again  O-me-me  rubbed  her  eyes  and  won 
dered  if  she  were  awake,  for  on  that  day  when 
the  little  white  worm  had  bidden  her  come  inside 
the  jasper  mountain  it  was  winter  without,  but 
now  the  snow  was  gone,  and  the  earth  was  car 
peted  with  green  and  the  trees  were  fresh  with 
swelling  buds.  A  rippling  stream  twinkled  in  the 
sunlight  and  along  its  margin  grew  the  earliest 
flowers  of  springtime.  As  O-me-me  walked  on 
over  the  tender  grass  and  soft  moss,  she  saw  that 
her  own  ragged  moccasins  had  been  replaced  with 


And    Other    Legends  133 

others,  new  and  beaded  with  wampum,  and  in 
stead  of  her  torn  and  travel  worn  garments  she 
wore  a  robe  of  softest  moose  skin  fringed  with 
quills  and  beaded  with  wampum.  Now  she  would 
come  to  her  new  home  already  rich  and  happy  if 
only  the  way  were  not  too  long  and  the  wicked 
Wen-di-goe  remained  in  his  cave  in  the  Land  of 
Gush-ke-wa. 

The  forest  was  now  full  of  song  birds,  and  as 
O-me-me  passed  a  clump  of  bushes  her  old 
friend  the  O-pe-chee  alighted  and  perked  his 
saucy  head  as  he  sang:  "Welcome!  Welcome! 
O-me-me.  See,  all  the  birds  have  come  to  greet 
you!  The  Wa-wa  from  the  far  Land  of  Shaw- 
on-dasee,  the  O-wa-issa  and  the  Saw-saw,  and 
even  the  Adji-dau-mo  from  the  tree-tops  calls  his 
greeting  to  O-me-me.  The  Se-bow-isha  dances 
and  sings  to  meet  you,  the  meadow  blooms  with 
all  her  brightest  flowers.  Not  unto  a  far-ofT  land 
of  strangers  comes  the  faithful  O-me-me,  but 
unto  friends  who  know  and  love  her.  Follow! 
Follow!  O-me-me/' 

Flitting  from  bush  to  bush  and  from  tree  to 
tree  flew  the  O-pe-chee  singing  always:  "Fol- 


134  The    White    Canoe 

low!  Follow!  O-me-me!"  and  O-me-me  taking 
courage,  smiled  up  at  the  swelling  buds  and  spring 
skies  and  followed  through  the  forest,  never  rest 
ing,  never  pausing,  but  no  weariness  fell  upon 
her  and  no  hunger  vexed  her. 

Noon  and  evening,  and  then  as  the  sun 
dropped  low  and  the  sky  reddened  behind  the 
tree-tops,  the  forest  opened  before  her,  and  she 
knew  that  she  was  near  her  journey's  end.  Be 
fore  her  stretched  a  broad  green  meadow 
through  which  flowed  a  clear  stream,  like  to 
the  meadow  and  the  stream  in  the  Land  of  the 
Puk-wud-jies,  and  then  O-me-me  knew  that 
they  were  but  revealing  to  her  the  beauties  of 
the  home  to  which  she  was  journeying.  Beyond 
the  stream  the  meadow  arose  to  meet  the  wood 
land  and  midway  between  the  stream  and  the 
forest  stood  a  wigwam.  Its  tall  poles  arose  clear 
against  the  glowing  sky  and  its  white  walls 
were  outlined  against  the  dark  forest.  While 
she  looked  and  wondered  the  robin  whirled  up 
ward  from  the  meadow  grasses  and  perching 
on  the  tallest  pole  of  the  wigwam  sang:  "Wel 
come  !  Welcome  home,  O-me-me !" 


And    Other    Legends  135 

Yes,  it  was  true !  This  was  indeed  the  home 
which  her  father  had  promised,  and  the  long, 
weary  journey  was  over,  this  beautiful  white 
wigwam  beside  the  crystal  river !  Here  she 
would  live  in  safety  with  the  Little  Beaver  and 
wait  for  the  time  when  her  father  should  come 
to  be  with  them. 

O-me-me  walked  through  the  long  meadow 
grass,  and  as  she  crossed  the  stream  and  ap 
proached  the  wigwam,  the  robin  lifted  his  voice 
and  sang  as  he  had  never  sung  before:  "Wel 
come!  Welcome  home,  O-me-me!" 

O-me-me  paused  before  the  lodge  door,  eager 
and  yet  fearing  to  enter.  What  treasures 
should  she  find  within?  Her  father  had  prom 
ised  that  she  should  never  know  want  again, 
but  that  all  things  needful  for  her  comfort 
should  be  provided.  What  stores  of  wampum 
and  blankets,  and  skins  must  be  within  the  wig 
wam. 

Reaching  forth  her  hand  she  lifted  the  cur 
tain  of  skins  which  was  drawn  before  the  door 
way.  At  first  she  could  see  nothing;  but  as  her 
eyes  became  accustomed  to  the  darkness  she  ven- 


136  The    White    Canoe 

tured  within,  to  find  the  wigwam  empty  except 
for  a  bed  of  fresh  fir  boughs  and  a  bit  of  hol 
low  log  which  stood  beneath  the  smoke-flue. 

Then  O-me-me's  heart  dropped  like  a  stone 
with  disappointment,  and  a  great  wave  of  weari 
ness  and  weakness  swept  over  her.  Was  this  the 
fulfillment  of  her  father's  promise,  this  bare  lodge 
with  only  a  bed  and  not  even  food  to  eat? 

She  laid  the  baby  down  on  the  bed  of  fir 
boughs  and  returned  to  the  lodge  door.  As  she 
stood  there  looking  out  over  the  meadow,  the 
robin  flew  from  the  lodge  pole,  and  flitting 
toward  the  river,  sang:  ''Follow,  follow,  O-me- 
me !"  Then  she  saw  that  a  canoe  was  drawn  up 
among  the  rushes,  and  as  she  drew  near  she 
discovered  three  freshly  caught  pike  lying  in 
the  bottom.  In  such  way  had  her  food  been 
provided,  so  she  took  the  pike  and  returned  to 
the  lodge.  Gathering  twigs  together  she  kin 
dled  a  fire  in  the  lodge,  and  stooping  beside  it 
she  began  to  prepare  the  fish  for  cooking.  With 
a  sharpened  bit  of  stone  which  she  had  picked 
up  beside  the  river  she  scraped  away  the  lustrous 
scales,  but  while  she  worked  her  eyes  were 


And    Other    Legends  137 

blinded  with  tears  of  weariness  and  disappoint 
ment. 

She  scraped  the  last  fish  and  placed  it  in  the 
kettle,  and  as  she  arose  she  dashed  the  tears 
from  her  eyes,  and  gathering  up  the  scales  that 
lay  in  a  little  heap  beside  her  she  threw  them 
into  the  opening  of  the  hollow  log.  And  then 
there  happened  the  strangest  and  most  wonder 
ful  thing  that  had  ever  befallen  in  all  the  course 
of  O-me-me's  strange  and  wonderful  life,  stran 
ger  even  than  the  punk  which  kindled  the  magic 
fire,  or  the  beaver's  tooth  which  started  the 
mighty  river,  stranger  than  the  jasper  moun 
tain  and  all  the  things  which  she  had  seen  in 
side,  for  as  O-me-me  poured  the  handful  of  fish 
scales  into  the  blackened  hollow  log  there  came 
out  at  the  bottom  a  stream  of  beautiful  glitter 
ing  wampum,  which  rolled  over  the  dark  floor  of 
the  wigwam  and  lay  like  bits  of  broken  rain 
bow  in  the  ashes  of  the  fire. 

Then  O-me-me  knew  that  in  this  manner  her 
father's  promise  would  be  made  good,  that  here 
was  given  her  a  mine  of  wealth  which  would  se 
cure  for  her  all  the  comforts  which  she  desired, 


138  The    White    Canoe 

and  that  never  should  she  know  hunger,  or  cold, 
or  weariness  again.  . 

As  O-me-me  gathered  the  wampum  from  the 
floor  of  the  wigwam,  the  breeze  which  stirred 
the  grasses  of  the  meadow,  the  rippling  waters  of 
the  brooklet,  and  the  robin  on  the  lodge  pole 
all  sang  together  in  one  melodious  chorus : 
"Welcome,  welcome  home,  O-me-me !" 


THE    END. 


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